We Are Known By Our Fruit
When I joined my church I took discipleship vows, where I promise to be loyal to Christ and to pledge to support the church by my prayers, my presence, my gifts, my service and my witness. My pastor mentioned that he does not see what people give nor does he want to. He shared with me that you really don't need to see the numbers, you usually know by their fruit. How true!
The Bible talks about our fruit. Matthew 7: 15-20, "Beware of false prophets,who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so,every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them." Jesus is teaching us how to know true followers. He tells us that the “fruit” of our lives prove what is inside our hearts.
When we repent of our sin and receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He changes our hearts. 2 Corinthians 5: 17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" Now the fruit produced is good fruit. Galatians 5: 22, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness..." This fruit is produced by a heart in tune with God. Now our actions, attitudes and perspectives change to be more Christ like. Our hearts change and our fruit changes.
"The fruit you can see is always a result of the root you cannot see."