Devo 38
3/3/01
"Fruit"
"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit." Matthew 12:33
On the bank of the Jordan river stood a man dressed in rags. His hair was ratted, his beard was scraggly, his eyes were on fire. "Prepare the way of the LORD" was his cry. "Make His paths straight." One by one, those of the multitude approached the grizzled man and let themselves be led into the rushing waters. One by one the people let the waters cascade over them, repenting, preparing their hearts. A murmur rippled through the crowd and a way was grudgingly opened before a group of men in flowing robes with wide fringes. When the man saw the group approaching, the fire in his eyes blazed hotter. "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance!" The men glanced at each other, a couple smiled smugly at the ragged upstart. "The ax is already at the root of the trees," the man in rags continued, "and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."
Another man stood surrounded by a multitude. In front of him were men and women suffering every kind of ailment; behind him the same danced for joy. The crowds were close, but on a small hill not far off stood a group of men in flowing robes with wide fringes; no one pressed close to them asking for help. Suddenly around the man, a little opening appeared and into it came a man supported by two others. The group of men nudged each other and turned their full attention to the scene below; they knew the man that had been brought forward. Blind, mute and demon-possessed, they were sure that this brash upstart that had caused them so much trouble had finally met his match. It was over before they knew it began. Suddenly, this man who was blind, mute and demon-possessed leapt to his feet held his hands in front of his eyes, "I can see" he cried. The multitude began talking excitedly, "Could this be the Son of David?" They all looked toward the man who had done the healing, "Could this be Messiah?" Suddenly from the group of men one stepped forward and shouted, "This man does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."
Can you imagine what Jesus must have been feeling at this point? The blind, mute, and demon-possed man had just been freed. And now the crowds were having their own eyes opened, "Could this be the Son of David" they asked. Perhaps at this moment they were becoming aware of their own bondage and felt the stirring in their souls that called them to repent. Perhaps at this moment they were more vulnerable to the ministering of the Holy Spirit than at any time before. Perhaps they were seeing Jesus as who He really was. Then the Pharisees speak. The religious leaders of the Jews open their mouths. The ones entrusted with the spiritual education of God's chosen people stand forth and accuse Jesus of being from Satan himself. Suddenly the light in the crowds eyes grows dim, and the flame kindled in their hearts dies out.
"Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things." Matthew 12:34,35
These are the words spoken by Jesus to the Pharisees on this occasion. I wonder if it brought to mind the words of Deuteronomy; "For their vine is of the vine of Sodom and of the fields of Gomorrah; their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter. Their wine is the poison of serpents, and the cruel venom of cobras." (32:32) Instead of bringing life and light to the people of Israel, the religious leaders were speaking words of poison, they were producing bitter fruit, fruit of gall. Rather than life, they brought death.
What kind of fruit are you producing? The college group I used to be involved with, and I think many others as well, think that 'fruit' is another word for 'converts'. In other words, producing fruit is winning people for Christ. I think the idea is much more general than that. After all, the Pharisees in Jesus' day produced fruit, albeit poisonous fruit. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22) Notice that 'conversions' isn't one of the fruit. In fact, everything listed in the Galatians passage refer to qualities of the believer's life. It starts with us.
"He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." Psalm 1:3
As Christians, our first priority is to God, and to living lives holy and acceptable to Him. To become Christ-like is another way to put it. But this is impossible apart from God. "He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) Before we can expect to do anything for God, we need to make sure that our roots are planted next to his running waters; that we are constantly seeking to make our lives wholly subject to God. We need to make His focus our own. To become so filled with the Spirit of God that His qualities, His everlasting attributes can't help but overflow into our lives and our actions. This is our fruit and it can't come while indulging in our sin. "What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death" (Romans 6:21)
Yes, having unbelievers come to the Lord is important, but it isn't our job to win them to Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:5,6 tells us that it is not man, but God who ultimately brings the unbelievers to Himself. Our goal is not to convert, that is God's job. Our job is to be the good fruit. In this world today is so much bad fruit, poisonous fruit that will do nothing but cause death. But as part of the True Vine, the source of life which flows from God, we can bear the fruit of life.
"Ephraim shall say, 'What have I to do anymore with idols?'... I am like a green cypress tree; Your fruit is found in Me." Hosea 14:8
God isn't concerned with the number of converts we can win. He is concerned with the fruit we produce, and whether that fruit is good or bad. Yes, we need to be witnessing to unbelievers and sharing the good news of Christ, but first of all we need to make sure we are firmly rooted in the True Vine and producing it's life giving fruit. The Pharisees believed they were part of this vine, but their actions proved otherwise; to His face they proclaimed Jesus was sent of Satan. Their fruit was poison, it led to death. "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life and he who wins souls is wise." (Proverbs 11:30) What kind of fruit are you producing?