Fruit

'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree'...we've all heard this trite phrase countless times and well most of the time it stands true. There seems to be something so foundational about the roots in which one comes from, and in all honesty it makes sense. But this becomes even more real and so much more crucial when we look at the Biblical picture of this idea. You see as Spurgeon said, "The fruit of the branch is directly traceable to the root", and if we are united with Christ in God than it would only be logical to conclude that the fruit that we produce should be a reflection of that root.

Jesus brings this illustration to life in John 15:4-11:

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full."

When I go to an apple orchard and see the countless rows of trees I expect to see apples on those trees. The same goes for the Christian. When someone claims to be a Christian, we should EXPECT to see fruit reflecting the new birth. Now I am not saying that there will be perfection by any means, for until we come into glory with Christ in heaven we will still be marred by the sinful flesh, BUT, there will be CLEAR evidence that a transformation has happened. And the fruit will be produced throughout the life of the believer.

We must realize that our fruit is only produced because of the precious union we have with Christ. For He is the source by which all fruitfulness will flow. It is by His grace that we bear fruit to reflect Him. Our fruit, although inwardly occurring, manifests itself externally. We began to have new desires, we began to show new characteristics, and we begin to walk differently. And God is our gardener in it all. He is the vine dresser who will prune when necessary in order that fresh, beautiful fruit might abound.

So do I reflect Christ in who I am in, in how I live/walk, in how I talk, in what I think etc.? Is the master gardener working in me to produce fruit? Is it visible? Has the apple fallen far from the tree?