How fruitful is your life? We are told in Matthew 7:16 that we will know others by their fruits. So, what kinds of fruits to you bear? What kinds of fruits do those who you are influenced by bear?
Jesus tells us in John 15:1-2, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (NKJV)
The fruits of the Spirit as told in Galatians 5:22 are: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Notice all these things have been shown through Christ, and as He lives within us, these things should shine through us as well.
Who doesn’t want to be around someone who is loving, joyful, peaceful, has patience, shows kindness, goodness, is faithful, gentle and practices self-control? I am encouraged and inspired by those who display these fruits. Is your life (or fruits) attractive to unbelievers? Do they see the influence of Christ in your life? I hope as those who don’t know the Lord get to know me, they will see the joy in my heart for the Lord and will want that too! My hope is that upon learning of the gift of salvation that Christ has for those who will believe and receive; it will draw in those who are hungry for something more in their life.
When a believer’s faith is tested (perhaps for pruning), there is an opportunity for non-believers to examine what God is really about. They may be looking at how the Christian is responding to the situation. Are they cursing God? Are they backsliding? How is their God working in their life? I have seen people won over to the Lord through other people’s tragedies because the fruits of the Lord were evident in them during their time of trial and tribulation. In our times of weakness, God is made strong and is still able to help us to produce good fruit. The best fruit can be produced when we seek and allow our Vinedresser to guide us.