By your Fruit

We are staying with my daughter at her house in Hamilton, New Zealand. And this time of year, their orange tree in their backyard has the most amazing fruit! They are juicy, delicious, and abundant. These are the best oranges I have ever tasted! And that says a lot coming from someone who grew up in Orange County, California.

Here’s a few pictures of these delicious oranges:

“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:17-20)

In contrast, they also have a lemon tree. I haven’t eaten one of them. Can you spot the lemons in the tray on the right? Lemons are good for lemonade with huge amounts of sugar, but not for eating! “You will know them by their fruits”.

So too, we need to be discerning towards those who present their fruits. Both the orange tree and the lemon tree are bulging with fruit this time of year. Each tree offers unique characteristics – sweet or sour. Some you want to harvest and enjoy their fruit, others not so much.

Lord, help us produce lives filled with sweet abundant delicious fruit! Let us not be sour and condemning. Let us instead be filled with the fruit of the Spirit – “Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control” (Gal. 5:22)