“You will fully recognize them by their fruits…….Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit [worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit.”Matthew 7: 16-18
“ We must not judge others, but we can be fruit inspectors”
I like watching my husband in the grocery store when he’s picking fruit. He usually waits for an audience to do something ridiculous. Once, he set a watermelon up to his ear and shook it after thumping it several times. ( None of these things help to pick a proper watermelon by the way). Sure enough, a couple of people who were observing began imitating what he did as he walked off- no doubt chuckling!
I remember my mother saying, “ we must not judge others, but we can be fruit inspectors!” This statement has always stuck with me. Matthew 7:16-17 says that we will be recognized by our fruits. In other words, our behavior is telling. It will let others know what kingdom we are aligned with and who our father is- either God and the kingdom of light or Satan and the kingdom of darkness. This is the fruit we are to be careful to inspect in ourselves and in others so that we can make wise decisions that guard our hearts, establish our footing, and set our course in life correctly.
Isaiah 5:20 AMP says, ” Woe (judgement is coming) to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” We are living in times where society is doing exactly this. What used to be very clearly defined as good and evil is now rapidly being shaded in as one big gray blob where most anything goes…except what aligns to God’s laws and His ways, of course.
In this time where truth is so elusive, how can we know who is bearing good fruit and who is bearing bad, and how can we identify good fruit bearing in ourselves? The Bible stands as a beacon to give us discernment and direction as “fruit inspectors.” Galatians 5 says the fruit of the Spirit of God is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control.” God further says that there is no law against these things. It doesn’t mean we have to be perfect in these areas, but we should be on a continual journey to develop and grow good fruit as God encourages us to be increasing in these areas.
Concerning the fruit of the kingdom of darkness, We are not left “in the dark” so to speak. (I know…I couldn’t help myself) Galatians 5 outlines exactly what they are: “sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography, chasing after things instead of after God, manipulating others, hatred of those who get in your way, senseless arguments, resentment when others are favored, temper tantrums, angry quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in love with your own opinions, being envious of the blessings of others, murder, uncontrolled addictions, wild parties and all other similar behaviors.”
I hear some people silently saying “uh oh….” because you can recognize some of this fruit in yourself. If this is you, not to worry. We all have areas of our behavior that we are working on. How do we move from bearing the wrong fruit, to bearing the right fruit?….by staying connected to Jesus. John 15:5bTPT says, ” As you live in union with me [Jesus] as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you..” (emphasis mine). In other words, bearing the “right” fruit comes as a result of spending time the “right way” by investing time with Jesus, meditating on His word, and hiding His word in our hearts. Before you know it, you’ll not just be a top notch fruit inspector, but you will be super fruitful for the Kingdom of Jesus yourself- from the inside out!