Not Your Typical Church Lady

I've always found it interesting to take trips below the Mason Dixon line. There are things growing down there that we don't have in Pennsylvania. It's fun to drive past fields and fields of peanuts. Peanuts!! It's fascinating to look out on a field of cotton. As a teen, the first time I saw Spanish moss hanging off a tree I couldn't believe it. We make fun of people who think milk comes from the store because we've got cows all over the place, but our neighbors down south can in return make fun of me because I thought Spanish moss came from a bag at Walmart. And palm trees! Wow – to see a palm tree in real life for the first time was a real treat! Isn't it fun to see orange and lemon trees? The people who have them are used to them and probably don't notice them. I've never yet seen a pineapple field but I hear its quite a sight for those who normally dwell in the North East. We don't have any of those things here. Pennsylvania is not nearly as exotic. We've got cows, corn, alfalfa, soybeans, wheat and barley. We have apples, pears and peaches. Maybe others come here and find all that to be thrilling though to my mind I can't imagine why. Isn't it fascinating though to see all these beautiful growing things? These plants and trees have all done their part and the result is the fruit (or vegetable, or grain.)

We are here to bear fruit as well. The question is, what kind of fruit are we producing? What is the outcome of our personal walk of faith? If someone were to examine us up close or at a distance, what would they find? Would they find good things or bad things? It's almost like imagining a spiritual audit. If at any moment someone were to do an audit of our hearts and lives, what would they find? We like to think we'd pass, right? But what are we producing? Is it favorable or unfavorable? I know I've had plenty of salty days.

In Galatians, Paul lists some examples of unfavorable things:

"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21, NIV.)

What is in a person's heart and what is done behind closed doors produces fruit, whether intentional or unintentional. These first things Paul talks about are not good things, nor will they bear good things. They are acts of a sinful nature. Pigweed will only grow more pigweed. It will not grow a tomato. Likewise, sin and sinful ways will only produce more sin and sinful ways. It may sometimes cover the bad with a veneer of good, but veneer is just a thin, decorative covering. If everything underneath is rotten, what good is it?

On the other hand, Paul writes:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV.)

Ah. These are the fruits of the Spirit. On our own, without God, we are sinful beings, prone to the evils of this world and all the juicy temptations that come with it. Through repentance and spiritual re-birth through Christ we are able to receive the Holy Spirit who guides us in a better direction. If we allow the Holy Spirit to guide our hearts rather than following our sinful nature, the result will be these good things.

Jesus himself preached about the importance of trees and their fruit. In Matthew 7 he says "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:15-20, NIV.)

If Jesus thought it was important, we ought to pay heed. Again, fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Paul tells us "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:7-8.)

Jesus wrapped up his words on bearing fruit with this: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoer!'" (Matthew 7:21-23, NIV.)

Let us sow to please the Spirit, doing the will of our Father in heaven. Let us each tend to our own trees and vines, pruning, trimming, fertilizing and pulling out the dead and unproductive. Let us soak in the scripture so our roots can grow deep. Let us turn our faces towards the Son so that our branches will grow outward and upward. Let us open our hearts to the Holy Spirit so that the fruit we bear may be good fruit for the glory of God.