Our Pastor shared the Truth with us yesterday, as taught by Jesus and recorded in the twelfth chapter of John.
I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop.
The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:24-25)
A living that dies. And a dying that lives.
A love of life, this temporal existence, producing death.
Yet a disregard for the life on earth preserving an eternal and glorious existence.
Each yielding a harvest of fruit.
A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit. (Luke 6:43)
In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. (Matthew 7:17)
Excellent fruit dripping ripe from the healthy tree.
A sickly and spoiled crop hanging loosely from the branches of the diseased tree.
You’ll recognize them by their fruit. (Matthew 7:16a)
Then, a question.
To all bearers of fruit.
From Jesus.
Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say? (Luke 6:46)
And a warning, lest you’re unconcerned with your fruit production.
Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 7:19)
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)
We find John the Baptist, always paving the way.
Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!
Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. (Matthew 3:2, 8)
Reminding us to produce fruit.
A harvest consistent with reform.
Life proving a change.
Feet following the heart.
Godly sorrow accompanying repentance.
More than a simple external alteration. A movement of mind, will and emotions.
Producing healthy fruit by dying to self in order to live for Christ.
Refusing to Tiptoe 
very good! and so true!
Thank you so much!
There is that old “dying to self” again. I think I’ve been able to shut down a few more parts since I last perused this topic. I pray they stay in the “off” position so that Jesus can take over and I move at HIS will, not my own. Thanks for the fruit-ful post!
Ahhhh…that’s it! HIS will. Allowing Him to have control. A struggle for me (but not for Him). 😉
Hi Cristal,
Every time I read those verses and others like them I have conflicting reactions. First is a knee-jerk anxiety…Am producing enough/good fruit? But then I remember that I am saved by grace and am under no condemnation. The comforting truth is that I cannot produce fruit any more than a gardener is responsible for the growth of a seed. Somehow I trust that the Lord is growing fruit from the seed of faith in my life. Yet I must cooperate…it’s a mysterious tension. As Paul said, we plant seeds and God makes them grow. As usual, you communicate challenging truth beautifully.
Judy
Thank you for getting “deeper”, Judy. It’s the cooperation part (the time when the gardener pulls the weeds, fertilizes, etc) that I tend to neglect. And then wonder why my fruit is sour.
Exactly.
“…Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say? (Luke 6:46)…”
For three or four years, I have been intrigued with this scripture. It’s one of those verses that we look at and think only in terms of Bible verses, but it’s more than that. It includes the leading of the Holy Spirit and hearing His voice also.
Good post.
so true
Thank you, Thomas.
That’s seems to be the core of our walk with Christ, Larry. Being Spirit-led. Not Cristal led. Not Larry led. Then HIS fruit is evident in our life. A Spirit filled life! 🙂
Reblogged this on Chief of the least.
You are very kind, Bryan. Thank you!
This has been a focus of my study and reflections lately. I’ve found some great helps in books like The Fruitful Life by Jerry Bridges (http://www.amazon.com/The-Fruitful-Life-Overflow-Through/dp/1600060277/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337092014&sr=8-1) and Spiritual Rhythm by Mark Buchanan (http://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Rhythm-Being-Jesus-Season/dp/0310293650/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337092048&sr=1-1). May we be known by our fruit not simply admired for our leafy-ness. Thanks for sharing.
Amen! Known by our fruit and not the frills! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us here today. I am glad you stopped by and hope you come back soon.
I loved what you Pastor shared with you all. And I pray that my fruit shows and that it falls on good ground all the time….WE must be obedient to the Lord when He tells us.
That seems to be key, Desiray. Obedient to the Lord. Led by His Spirit. The fruit then effortlessly seems to grow.
that it does Cristal
Here’s the challenge I see resulting from these various verses, as acted out in my church: People see these verses and think to themselves: “Ah, I am supposed to ‘bear good fruit’. Well, I’m a pastor/church leader/church member, and Jesus said it, so I better get to bearing fruit, or at least look like I’m bearing fruit. If I’m not bearing fruit the other church members will think I’m not doing what Jesus said…they may fire me…I need to bear fruit! What can I do to prove that I’m bearing fruit? How many ministries can I serve in to show everyone how fruitful I am?”
Bearing fruit isn’t one of those ‘fake it ’till you make it’ things…that’s how God’s Word gets twisted by human striving. That’s how churches become museums for saints rather than hospitals for sinners. That’s the kind of place that buries sin beneath a deep layer of denial.
It’s almost as if you’ve known me for years and are describing my progress from being works oriented to Spirit led. Not that works are bad (James 2:15-18). But, I would read the Scriptures and then (in my own effort) attempt to look like what I read. Exactly the way you described. I truly regret those wasted years. And I pray God will redeem what I lost. I am certainly not perfect now. But, I am learning it’s God’s Spirit in me Who produces the fruit. Being immersed in Him and His Word creates a perfect environment for a healthy growth of His fruit. Thank you for sharing an often overlooked and purposefully neglected truth.
Awesome Cristal! Been so busy… glad to at least catch this one.
Bless you!
Thank you, Vince. I’ve not been able to blog-browse lately, either. Not so sure it’s a bad thing, though. Bearing good fruit requires being in the Word. Which doesn’t necessarily require the internet, right? 😉
Amen Cristal to that!
I really enjoy reading your Sunday posts, Cristal. I’m using today to catch up on all the blogs I follow. Yours is continuously one of my favorites!
Thank you, Carrie. I’m still searching for my catch-up day. Your blog is also a favorite of mine. And I have some He Says She Says emails waiting for me! 😉
Very touching! God bless you for sharing.
Thank you so much for the encouragement! And for stopping by to comment!