Heart Fruit

Have you ever considered how difficult it is for a person to go against their own nature? It can be difficult for us to fake who we really are – especially for any extended period of time because our heart will always reveal the truth about us. That is why the bible tells us that we can know who people really are by their fruit. Just like it is impossible for a leopard to change its spots, it is also impossible for good fruit to be produced by a bad tree. Jesus puts it this way in Luke 6:43-45 which says: 

"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."

I believe that God orchestrated things this way so that it would be easy for us to discern the spirit of others. We can tell by their fruit. And even if they try to hide it, their true nature will always slip out, because what is in our hearts eventually reveals itself in what we say. Though it is impossible for a bad tree to produce good fruit, the bible also teaches us that all things are possible with God. That tells me that people can change, but not without the help of the Holy Spirit. The bible tells us that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. We have been grafted in. We may have once been thorn bushes, but with the help and transformation of the Spirit, we can now produce good fruit through Jesus Christ in whom we abide.

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Jesus tells us that each tree is recognized by its fruit. A good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree bears bad fruit. I encourage you to examine your own heart. What kind of fruit are you bearing? What kind of heart do you have? I’ve heard it said that we are what we do. If that is true, what do you spend your time doing? What are you putting into your heart? I encourage you to spend time allowing God to prune your heart. Let the Holy Spirit remove anything that is rotten, and cultivate those things that reflect his nature. If we’re able to do that, I’m convinced that we will be able to bear much good fruit. Then out of the overflow of our heart, people will know that we belong to him.

Imitate Their Faith

I would argue that most Christians, maybe even yourself, know of someone you believe is really living a life honoring to Christ – someone who you look up to in the faith. This could be a pastor, it could be the person who led you to Christ, or just someone that you know who is humble and steadfast in their faith. The bible encourages us to imitate these people. In fact, Paul encourages in his letters, that the readers should imitate him as he imitates Christ. And in Hebrews 13:7 it says:

"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith."

I like how it says to “consider the outcome of their way of life”, because that shows the fruits of their faith. It shows how their faithfulness to the gospel has reflected a solid pattern of peace and contentment in their life. So, of those whom you deem as the “perfect Christian”, consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. However, in doing so, be careful not to put them on a pedestal or idolize them. Unlike Jesus, they are still only flawed humans who are subject to fall. But even still, it is always inspiring to see someone living it. When we do, it inspires us to do likewise.

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Hebrews tell us to, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith”. Though the Holy Spirit lives inside of us, Jesus has gone to sit at the right hand of the Father. He is no longer here to be our living example to follow. But there are strong believers who at times make it seem effortless to remain right before God. Their faith is strong and they seem to remain steadfast. Hebrews encourages us to imitate their faith. I know that I have those who I try to imitate in the faith, and I hope you do as well.

Make The Most

I’ll make a blanket statement and say that often times, we as believers, aren’t looking for opportunities to share our faith with others. We aren’t praying for opportunities, and we’re not ready should they arise. Not every conversation with someone has to be Christ focused. But I believe that if we are wise, if we make the most of every opportunity, if our conversations are full of grace, then we will be primed when God opens the door to truly sharing about Christ. Why do I believe this? Because of what Colossians 4, verses 5 and 6 say. It says: 

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

We never know when God may choose to orchestrate a divine appointment. It may not be leading someone to Christ, it could be just giving someone an encouraging word at just the right time. Who knows how God will choose to use you and when? But that’s the point. We need to be ready to make the most of every opportunity. And when those opportunities arise, I’m convinced that we don’t have to force anything. All we have to do is let our conversations be “always full of grace and seasoned with salt” as the bible says. Then it’ll be like we just know what to say. Well, I hope that both motivates you while also taking some of the pressure off when it comes to our role in the great commission.

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I confess that I’m not the best when it comes to making the most of every opportunity especially when it comes to connecting with strangers. I’ve missed several opportunities to just have conversations with those I believe God was urging me to connect with, and I’ve regretted every one of them. We shouldn’t ignore those around us, but as Colossians says, we should be wise in the way we act toward outsiders. So, I encourage you to speak to someone you don’t know when you feel the Lord prodding you. The conversation may never get around to Christ, but you’ll be making the most of every opportunity, and God may use you to do an important thing in someone else’s life especially if your conversation is full of grace.

Opposite Effect

I find it peculiar that when people, governments or organizations of power try to unjustly silence or put pressure on the innocent, we often find that instead of what they intended to happen, the exact opposite happens instead. When they tried to silence and ultimately killed Jesus, instead of stopping what he started, it sparked a fire across the world and throughout history. The same can be said about the death of Martin Luther King, stories from the persecuted church, and other social or religious injustices. When some try to stop a movement, their very efforts are somehow turned to benefit exactly what they were trying to stop. Paul experienced this himself. In Philippians chapter 1 verses 12 through 14 Paul says this:

"Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly."

So, I encourage you, if it seems as if someone or even spiritual forces are trying to stop what God has called you to do, remember Paul. By being put in prison, instead of stopping the spread of the gospel, God made the exact opposite take place. Paul explains that, “because of his chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly”. We are almost never allowed to see the entire picture. Our job is to be obedient and trust that God knows what he is doing, even in our darkest hour. And who knows, you may learn that God chose to use what was intended against you to have the exact opposite effect.

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God has a way of turning what was meant for evil into something good. He’s done it several times throughout history, and it is recorded here in Philippians when he did it with Paul. If you look hard enough, you may find times in your own life where this is true. God is, and has always been, in control. So when you are suffering, especially if it is for Christ, rejoice because not only is there a reward for you in heaven for your suffering, but you can also take heart that it may very well be a part of God’s master plan.

Godless Chatter

I knew of someone who struggled with believing in the bible because it didn’t match his own set of beliefs that he’d formed through his time living life. He’d formed his own code of what is right and wrong. Some of what he said seemed to agree with the principles of the bible and others did not. Even though he claimed to be a believer, it seemed as though he just agreed with whatever portions of the bible matched his personal code and disregarded the rest. As bad as this type of thinking could be for his own spiritual growth, think about what it would do if he tried to teach it to others. It would be nothing more than godless chatter. Second Timothy chapter 2, verses 16 through 18 says:

"Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some."

It is dangerous to choose to believe only what we want to agree with when it comes to our devotion to the bible. The entire bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit, so if we dismiss what we don’t want to agree with, or even worse – teach others to believe our own version of what we think the bible should be, we are wandering away from the truth and destroying the faith of some. So I encourage you, just as Timothy does, to avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.

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Timothy warns us to avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. The type of chatter that he is referring to is when we choose our own so called “wisdom” over biblical truth. When we begin to think that we know better than God, and we substitute what he deems as holy and right for what we consider holy and right, we are deceiving ourselves and worse – we deceive others if they choose to listen to us. So please, take the bible as total and pure truth. It is the Holy Scriptures inspired by the Holy Spirit. Even the cover of my copy says “Holy Bible” as to make sure I’m never confused.