Growing Fruit

[Jesus said,] “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”

John 15:4

Many people like to grow fruit trees in their backyards. Depending on the part of the country you live in, you might see peaches, pears, cherries, apples, or oranges on these backyard trees. There’s nothing like being able to walk outside and eat sweet cherries from your own tree in the spring or crisp apples in the fall. When there’s an abundant crop, the fruit can be put in the freezer or canned in jars for later.

The trees need care in order to produce their fruit. They need direct sunlight and water. Some trees need to have a cold season in order to grow, while others thrive best in hot climates. All of them need good soil.

Sometimes a tree doesn’t produce fruit, or the fruit rots, but you can be like the trees whose branches are heavy with good fruit. When you belong to Jesus, he wants you to abide in him. That means you have a close personal relationship with him. You read your Bible, think hard about what you’re reading, and let those words change you from the inside out. Just as the sun, rain, and good soil give the trees what they need to produce fruit, Jesus gives you all you need to produce spiritual fruit.

What is spiritual fruit? It isn’t the kind you find in an orchard or in the supermarket. It’s the characteristics God’s Spirit develops in you as you allow him to work in your life. He nudges your conscience about the stuff that doesn’t belong—like jealousy, anger, gossip, and unkind thoughts about others. And he helps you make choices that make you more like Jesus.

When that happens, your life will blossom with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23). These are called the fruit of the Spirit, and others will see these in your life when you are abiding in Christ.

The fruit of the Spirit are listed above, or you can read them for yourself in Galatians 5:22-23. Can you see these characteristics in your own life? If not, ask God to help you be more like Jesus so that his fruit will fill your life.