“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn-bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:43-45
As those who have been redeemed by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we should be those who are bearing good fruit for God. Can a person look at your life and know that you are a Christian? What I mean by that, is if someone followed you around every second of every day, would they be able to tell by observing you that you have been saved because of the fruit you are bearing? Are we bearing good fruit? Or bad fruit? And this is not to overlook our struggle with sin. Many times, if people looked at my life they would not see righteous, godly behavior. I pray that I am growing in my sanctification, but we all struggle.
Those who are connected to the vine will bear good fruit.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-dresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:1-5
Too many people today think they can do it all on their own. Apart from Christ. Separated from His bride, the Church. We need to remain connected. Abiding in Him. So how do we do that? By using the things that we have been given. Are we in the Word? Are we in prayer? Are we spending time with His people? And are we focusing our attention on the fruit that Scripture says we should be bearing?
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23