John 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Can someone pick a piece of fruit from you?

It is fruit bearing season. There is a story in the Bible when Jesus cursed the fig tree (Mark 11:12-13, 20-21). Now, He did not curse it just because it did not have fruit. This was not the season for bearing fruit. He cursed it because it “looked” like it had fruit. Fruit usually comes before the leaves, so when Jesus saw the leaves from a far off, He thought there would be fruit. He was hungry and a tree with fruit was a need met. Make sure you are not “pretending” to be a need met.

Matthew 23:27-28 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like a grave that has been whitewashed. You look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside you are full of moldering bones and decaying rot. 28 You appear, at first blush, to be righteous, selfless, and pure; but on the inside you are polluted, sunk in hypocrisy and confusion and lawlessness. (The Voice)

No matter how talented you are and how gifted you are, without God, you can do nothing. You can’t just appear to be full of fruit from far away. Someone is going to come to pick a piece of fruit off your tree because:

• They may not understand love that does not come with a price tag, and they need divine love in all its varied expressions.
• They may not know what life is like without despair, and they need joy.
• They may be full of conflict and they need peace that subdues.
• They may not have had someone walk with them despite the life they have chosen and they need patience that endures.
• They may only know cruelty and need to see kindness in action.
• They may not know what goodness looks like and they need an example of a life full of virtue.
• They may not have any faith or their faith wavers and they need to know there is a God Who provides faith that prevails.
• They may have never experienced mercy so they can’t imagine how their life would be different and they need someone who has a gentle heart.
• They may not have any self-control and they need someone who can show them that strength of spirit is possible.

Are you that person? Can you be? Yes, to make sure you have fruit, you must abide.

Colossians 1:9b-10 that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [with insight into His purposes], and in understanding [of spiritual things], 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts]; (Amplified Bible)

Spend time in the presence of the Lord, so when someone comes to pick a piece of fruit from your tree, they are not disappointed.

Please agree with me as I pray:

Father, because I am saved, I can have the fruit of the Spirit. It can operate in my life and I thank You. I understand I have to abide in You, if the fruit will be available when there is a need. I don’t want to be the person who appears to be spiritual but really isn’t. When the time comes for someone who needs long-suffering, who needs temperance, I want to provide it. Thank You for showing me this is not a some-of-the-time thing, this is an all-of-the-time thing. You will send people into my life who will need what You have already placed inside me. I don’t want them to leave worse than they came. I want to enrich and encourage them. I know in order for rivers of living water to flow from me; I have to spend time with You. Not in fleeting and not when I can fit You in, but dedicated and consecrated time. I need that so accept Your correction, Your discipline and Your development. When I stray, help me come back to You. You are my center. Help me abide…