Our son’s family bought a farm over a year ago. They have since added chickens, cows, and goats to their farm. Later, they planted several different kinds of fruit trees. Since I eat a lot of fruit daily, I am eagerly awaiting the first crop from each tree. Just by looking at the trees, I am unable to distinguish what type of fruit trees they are. I know some people can, but I can’t. I will have to wait until the fruit is visible before I will be able to distinguish each tree’s type.
Jesus described our character in terms of fruit trees. In Matthew 12:33 He said, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.” You see, other people can tell what kind of person we are by the things we produce from our lives. If we leave a trail of discord, heartbreak, and unhappiness in the lives we touch, then our character is bad. If, however, we leave a legacy of joy, love and peace, we have proven to be honorable and righteous. It is impossible to have bad character and produce positive effects upon others.
But a good tree must be planted in good soil and nurtured with good nutrients. For people, this means we must have our nature transformed by the grace, love, and power of God. So we begin be trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation and redemption. Then, daily we walk in His ways to build a godly character and produce righteous fruit. Only by drawing on God’s unlimited love and power can we expect to bear good fruit.
Reluctant Retiree 