John 15:8 “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
My little one was in the bathroom with me the other day. She was sharing with me something she wanted and I asked her if she knew what delayed gratification was. She shook her head. I said, “it is like having self-control. Being able to wait on something that you want.”
“Oh, yeah, a fruit of the spirit!” she replies quickly and proceeds in singing a song naming all the fruits of the spirit that she learned in her Sunday School a few years earlier.
“Yes, exactly.” I told her. “So, if you were a lemon tree but had no lemons would I know you were a lemon tree?”
She shook her head again.
“Right. I’d have no idea. But if you had lemons hanging off of you I would know you were a lemon tree and then I could come pick off a lemon! So when people see the fruits of the spirit in your life, like self-control, or kindness, then they know you are a Christian. But if they don’t see any of that fruit in your life then they can pretty much know that you aren’t. And that is a wonderful tool to know whether people are followers of Christ or not.”
She proceeded to evaluate one of her siblings and their lack of fruit, and I realized quickly she had gotten the point.
Can people tell what you are? Is there any sign of fruit? Love? Joy? Peace? Longsuffering? Kindness? Goodness? Faithfulness? Gentleness? Self control? These are the fruit of a disciple. This is how God is glorified and we are set apart. Recognized as His. And it all occurs through abiding.
I can tell quickly when I haven’t had any real time with my Father. There isn’t a lot of “love” flowing if you know what I mean. I’m not surprised at times when Philly will look at me and say, “Why don’t you go get away and have you a quiet time.”
Abiding creates fruit. And our Father is glorified. So, take a peek beneath your branches. Evaluate your recent conversations, behaviors, and heart attitude. No fruit is born separate of abiding. May this be a season where you do that often, do it deeply and enjoy the fruit that it brings.
