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 thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
Luke 6:43-45 NIV
Fruitfulness was a recurring theme in Jesus’ instruction to the Twelve.
Immediately after He appointed the Twelve, Jesus stressed the importance of living fruit-bearing lives.
Before going to the cross, Jesus summarized His desire for the Eleven (Judas had already left). He wanted them to bear much fruit, lasting fruit (John 15).
What strikes me about Jesus’ message on fruit-bearing is that He marks the source of the fruit. Where will this fruit come from?
“Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.” Its “own.” The fruit is a part of the tree. The fruit cannot be separated from the identity of the tree.
The fruit comes from what is “stored up in his heart.” The external, visible evidence of a true Christ follower comes from an inward transformation of identity.
The fruit isn’t just something I have, or something I produce. The fruit is who I am.
In Christ, as a new creation, my fruitfulness is an extension of my transformation.
Identity.
It’s more than a belief, or a name, or an association with a group of people.
I was lost.
Now I’m found.
I was dead.
Now I’m alive.
In Christ, all things are made new. And the fruit of Christ’s life expressed through me is the result of the fruit of Christ now living in me and consuming me.
Upon closer inspection, with careful self-examination, what do I see stored up in my heart? What do you see stored up in yours?
This blogpost originally appeared at: True Disciples Bear Good Fruit – Sonlife and is based upon Sonlife’s study, Knowing Him / A 50 Day Study in the Life of Christ / Day 28