Bearing Good Fruits

Introduction: 

Welcome my friend,

In the course of each week there are quite a handful of activities that one may relish yet none so satisfying as being here with you to have these conversations. 

This is because it's an honour to be the hands from which these words flow bearing wisdom, truth and insight from the source of it, God. 

Which makes me much of a listener too, looking to learn and understand some of these things better and to try to apply them in my life just as you're trying to do. 

Yet this is a struggle for us. 

We're in a world full of junk pleasures where it's easy to get lost in comfort and distractions.

A place where trying to live as believers isn't “the cool thing to do” so that we're subtly or openly shamed, mocked and ridiculed for our “naivety” and “weakness” in believing in God, making it difficult for some of us to find the courage to do so.

Yet this is our responsibility. 

To live out the truth that we've now been made aware of, so that through us, by our lifestyle, others can have a longing to accept this truth, having been inspired by our conduct.

This is what bearing fruits means for us and in the course of this conversation we'd be pointing out every other thing that it really entails. 

Discussion:

A seed is the business equivalent of a capital in that they're supposed to multiply. 

For businesses profits are returned and for seeds, fruits are borne. 

Both of which signify increase. 

In this we can say that seeds are supposed to increase so that they bear fruits which in turn have their own seeds that can be multiplied; as in a ripple effect. 

This means that over the course of many years, one seed can bear many trees even up to a farm, which makes it significant that it germinates, because afterwards the potentials are limitless. 

■ Bearing Fruits As It Concerns Us

One man can't change the world but the world can change one man after the other as each man gets better for themselves and those around them. 

As believers we're like seeds that are supposed to multiply and we do this when through our behaviour and conduct those around begin to get inspired to behave and act better.

This has less to do with what we proclaim about God or say to them about repentance and salvation but how we through our interactions show them a grace and kindness that pushes them to do the same for others. 

■ The Best Fruit 

If each of us are asked to name our best fruits we'd do that according to our respective taste buds. 

Which means that someone else's best fruit may be what another dislikes and this is just perfect. 

In this we can see that the responsibility of bringing others to God isn't reserved for certain believers or your preacher alone. 

As children of God, we all have the same access to him as everyone else which makes us viable seeds, ready to multiply. 

So in our homes, work places, social groups and every other place we find ourselves we're to behave in ways that will draw others to us, and through us, God. 

This is the whole purpose of our salvation. 

Just like certain people won't take certain fruits, not everyone will want to listen to the preacher because they've already turned their hearts against him.

Yet when we treat those around us with dignity and respect we begin to catch their attention, making them open to our message of truth before we even say a word. 

This makes us their favourite fruit.

So let's brace up for this responsibility. 

None of us is too small to make an impact and not every tree will be as big as the mango, so that even in its short stems a maize does bear its fruits accordingly. 

God has blessed all of us differently, giving us different talents and gifts and none is more important than the other. 

We should therefore embrace the responsibility to use them to serve others. 

This is how we bear good fruits. 

■ A Viable Seed

Like we've seen everyone of us has what it takes to bear fruits because it doesn't require any extra special skills or qualifications to do so. 

Wherever we find ourselves we can bear good fruits when our conduct shows;

▪︎ Love 

Genuine concern for those around us will show in the level of grace we're willing to give them when they offend us. 

Do we just cut them off, throw tantrums and complain in harsh words or do we care enough to understand them or communicate our grievances in a way to repair rather than tear down?  

When we show kindness to someone in a time they feel undeserving of it, we catch their attention because we have behaved in a way most people wouldn't. 

▪︎ Humility 

When we're unapproachable we make ourselves inaccessible to be of service to those around us. 

So they miss out on the value we could have offered them, as we miss out on the blessings that were to come from doing so. 

If we arrive for dinner are we the kind of person to take away the dishes or do we reserve it for the ‘smallest’ amongst us? 

These are the little things. 

In our work places do we bring others to speed with what they're lagging at or do we just treat them as fools? 

When others correct us and rightly so, do we listen and change or do we show them that their opinions do not matter? 

▪︎ Patience 

Patience is love and humility at work. 

Being patient with others means that we're willing to meet them where they're at, allowing them room to catch up without shaming or judging them.

In our relationship with others we have to understand that some folks have become used to behaving in certain ways due to their nature and nurture; and give them time to learn and unlearn good and bad habits accordingly. 

When we're patient with others we're less judgemental and more understanding and supportive of them as they continue their inner work. 

▪︎ Self Control 

When we show restraint in our behaviour we separate ourselves from the crowd. 

If someone hurls insults at us can we find the discipline to ignore their folly and walk away or do give them that punch on the face “as it should be”? 

It's never easy to play the bigger person but as believers this is a responsibility. 

When we react calmly to certain tense situations we show a good example to those watching on the sides. 

This isn't to say that we shouldn't stand up for ourselves, but we must know where to draw the line so that we don't become what we're fighting against.

Summary: 

The purpose of our salvation is to bring other people to God.

This makes us seeds ready to multiply. 

When God revealed himself to us he did so through other people who by their words and actions inspired us to take that walk to come closer to him; having realized that he's nothing close to the harsh punisher we thought him to be but a loving heavenly father. 

God has created each of us for good works and we avail ourselves for service when we obey his will for us. 

Every seed has what it takes to bear fruits but not every seed will bear fruit unless it's right there in the farm being nurtured into growth by the farmer, God. 

Master Apprentice.

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