BEARING FRUITS
BEARING FRUITS
What does it mean to bear fruit? First of all, fruits are the good character traits of an Ambassador (true follower of Jesus Christ) who is willingly submitted to and operating under the influence of the Holy Spirit. In the Bible these fruits are listed as: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (see Galatians 5: 22).
Secondly, fruits are also the good works that an Ambassador does while fulfilling the calling that Jesus has called him to. These fruits, good character and good works, go hand in hand as an Ambassador goes forth into the world preaching and teaching the Word as he is led by the Spirit.
An Ambassador does not go forth into all the world under compulsion begrudgingly. Nope! Once an Ambassador has discovered his true identity in God he goes forth with exceeding joy! We can’t help but to share the amazing truth that we have found in Jesus. We have much joy because of the hope we have in salvation and the good news is too good to be kept to ourselves!
When we bear the fruits of good works we should not only do it because we have compassion for the world but also because we do unto others as we would do to Jesus. Matthew 25:40 declares, “Inasmuch as ye have done to these have ye done to Me.” I know it is difficult at times to love on some who seem unlovable but we should do it anyway because remember, we are to bless even those who are disagreeable or disparaging (see Matthew 5:44).
In Luke 3: 9-11 we have a warning to those who are not bearers of good fruit and we also have instruction of what we should do in order that we may be bearers of good fruit. The verse states: “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” 10) And the people asked him (Jesus), saying What shall we do then? 11) He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.” May we never be in danger of the axe cutting us down!! In James we read a definition of how our faith, which is our salvation through Jesus, the Word made flesh, is shown through our works. It is never enough that we preach and teach the Word by speech only; we must also live out in actions the Word of God.
James 2:14-18 “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? 15) If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, 16) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; not withstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
May we be found to be perfectly fitting the description of an Ambassador as it says we should be in Colossians 1:10! That verse says that we should “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Let it be so!
