Jesus told a parable in Luke 13 about a man who planted a fig tree in his vineyard, and for three years he came seeking to find fruit on it, and found none. That does not seem to be an unreasonable expectation – wanting a fig tree to produce fruit. 

 The owner expressed his disappointment with the keeper of the vineyard and instructed him to ‘cut it down’. There was no need for it to ‘use up the soil’. The attendant petitioned the owner to give it one more year and allow him to give it some extra attention with the hopes that it might help produce fruit. If after the extra year of ‘grace’, he agreed that ‘cutting it down’ would be the only thing left to do if it remained unfruitful. 

 Please note: the owner of the field came seeking fruit. (13:6) He did not ask about the tree’s trunk size or how deep the roots went nor was he that concerned about the amount of leaves on the tree. 

 He came seeking fruit. 

 God has thing ‘thing’ about fruit. And not just any fruit, but Good fruit. I hope I don’t have to add the fact that the fruit He is looking for is suppose to be in us, as in evident in our lives, given we have been likened as being the trees of His field. 

 Why the very first gospel of Matthew, in chapter 3, John the Baptist’s ministry is gaining attention. When the religious establishment of the day came to investigate, he asked them a straightforward question: Who warned you about the coming wrath? If you want to escape it, you better ‘bear fruits worthy of repentance’; adding on that they better not be trusting in their ancestral roots. Sort of like “I’m a fourth generation ___________ (insert your denomination) and both my dad and his dad were deacons for x-amount of years”. Remember, it’s not about trunk size or amount of leaves. 

 “Even Now”, he says…the ‘ax is laid to the root of the trees and every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire”. (vs.10) Did you catch that ‘even now’ part? 

 You need only to travel over four chapters to the right in the same gospel and read where Jesus makes the case that there are two kinds of trees…trees that produce good fruit and trees that produce bad fruit. And ‘every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire’…affirming this fact: ‘by their fruits you will know them.” (7:19-20) 

 And if that doesn’t make you sit up and re-read again, notice this troublesome fact Jesus declares: “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” (18) Oh, and in the verse above, you should also note the ‘tense’ being used regarding the outcome of trees that don’t produce: “IS” cut down, not ‘will be’ in the far off future. That is worthy of some prayerful thought and consideration. 

Paul really paints it clearly for us distinguishing the difference between ‘bad fruit’ and ‘good fruit’. You might revisit Galatians 5:19-24. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, etc…” (22) 

 Now here is a news flash for ALL of us to digest: We Don’t Produce Fruit. He Does! 

 This has absolutely been one of the most seismic ‘shifts’ of revelation in scripture that I’ve come across in the past two years. 

 I don’t care how many times you read, quote, memorize or even sing about being more joyful or kind or patient…no matter how hard you try to ‘be’ …We. Don’t. Produce. That. Fruit. 

 He does.

 Some of you might be asking now: “So How is that fruit produced”? Good question. Let’s take a look at the word. 

 John 15: 1-7 is a good place to start. But I want to draw your attention to verse 8 first. Jesus said: “By this My Father is glorified, that you bare much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” I’m sure many of you have sang in church that familiar song: “In my life Lord, be glorified, be glorified…today.” That’s one of those songs that seem really special when you sing with eyes closed and uplifted hands. It is a prayerful song for sure. 

 So how is God glorified? When fruit is produced in our lives. And those first seven verses leave little room for doubt: You don’t produce it on your own and the only way you will see fruit produced is IF you ‘abide in Him and His word abides in you.’ 

 John has so much to say about this subject of ‘abiding’. I really believe it is where so many of us have missed out and fallen short in this ‘faith walk’. Admit it, it’s much easier and comforting to just convince ourselves that if we joined the church and got baptized and avoid the big sins, then ‘all is good’ and we need not worry ourselves with all this ‘extra credit’ stuff for super Christians, like needing to ‘abide in Him.’ 

 For many others, myself included, I think we have been guilty of treating ‘abiding in Christ’ much like those cartoon characters, Sam and Ralph, the sheep dog and coyote. You remember them. They would spend the bulk of that cartoon show going at it with all their ‘activity’, but when the horn went off, their activity ceased, and they clocked out at the tree with those familiar lines of: “Good’ night Sam…See you tomorrow Ralph.” 

 It’s almost like we have treated abiding like a ‘duty’ instead of a ‘delight’. I spent my hour in devotions this morning…now I am free to go do other things that interest me. I think back of the wasted hours and years ‘vegging’ in front of a TV watching mindless shows…that dulled my spirit and did little to cultivate any ‘fruit’ in my life that was pleasing to God. He has even shown me countless times in the past where I might come home from a really good church service on Sunday and I was anxious to plop down in the recliner or sofa and spend hours watching a game or movies that had NOTHING to do with drawing closer to Him or ‘thinking on things above and not the earth’ (Col 3:2) 

 Why there were multiple times where He would whisper to me: “Is that really what you want to do the rest of the day?” And I made that conscious decision of ‘what else is there to do…I did my ‘duty’ today…I was spiritual for x-amount of hours’…I’m ‘off the clock now’. This is ‘my time’. And it wasn’t in a snarky tone…it was that ‘other voice’ helping me justify my reasons for not ‘continuing to abide’ in Him. James 4:8 comes to mind: “Purify your hearts, you double-minded”. 

 Think of abiding this way: It is an ‘awareness’ thing. Being conscious of His presence continuously. “Lo, I am with you Always”, Jesus tells us. (Matt 28:20) 

 Yeah, yeah…I know Jesus. But I really want to go enjoy this for the rest of the day. You’re great, but this world has some really good things to offer up as well. I love to have my heart and mind filled with pleasures and such that have no eternal value. 

 Let’s be honest here. Your ‘carnal flesh nature’ loves this world and all it serves up. 

 Which is why it needs to be put to death. 

 You see, the other note on this ‘fruit production’ in our lives…only comes about when something ‘dies’. (John 12:24-26) You might go read/mark that one now. The more time I spend with Him…abiding in Him, the more I become aware of things in my own heart that need to die or be put to death. I don’t ‘produce the fruit of kindness’ in my life. He leads me to ‘die to unkindness’. I don’t ‘produce patience’ in my life. He leads me to ‘die to impatience’. HIS kindness and HIS patience is the fruit that is produced when I die to the bad stuff. I decrease and He increases. (John 3:30) 

 The closer we draw to Him, the more evident and greater clarity we will recognize those things that need to die. It’s not even easily classified as a ‘sin issue’ as much as it is a “You don’t need to do that, or say that, or think on that as you walk/abide with Me.” And please note: It’s not about dwelling on your sinful condition either. He brings light to expose areas that He wants to remove;- Not ‘dial down, or ‘put on a leash’ or ‘in a cage’. He invites us to ‘take up our cross’, die to these things, or, ‘lay down your life’ and in the process…you begin to experience a greater sense of His presence, His peace, His goodness, His freedom. 

 Why would we not respond to continue on with/in Him…unless, perhaps, there is something we just love more? If by chance, you are feeling a tad torn or conflicted inside as you read this, don’t just throw your hands up in despair and let the enemy bring condemnation and guilt on you. 

 That is not what God wants you to experience. Simply ask Him to show you where the ‘blockage is’ and remove it. You cannot even begin to imagine the good things He has in store for those who turn to Him with ALL their hearts. (2 Chron 16:9) Throw that time clock away and begin to abide in Him. 

 Oh, one last note if you will allow me: If you are one who admits to ‘sinning daily’ or ‘regularly’, consider this…You are not abiding in Him. “Whoever abides in Him does not sin.” (1 John 3:6) And put that hammer down. (my post from yesterday)