Busy But Barren.

As we continue our thoughts on this past Sunday's sermon, let's unpack one of the points Pastor Richie made: There is either real fruit or no fruit.


Luke 13:1-9 is one of those passages that makes you pause and think about your own standing in Christ. Its refrain, "Unless you repent you likewise will perish" (see verses 3 and 5), is a serious warning for all of us who claim to be in the center of Christ's will. Like the fig tree in the parable, we learn that it is possible to be in the middle of everything, in the best possible location for productivity, yet still not produce any fruit for the kingdom of God.


On of the challenges we face is that some believers think they can produce, out of their own merits, an artificial "fruit-like" substance that makes it appear as if they are walking in obedience to the mandate of God. They show up in church every Sunday, they are active in choirs or classes, they are deeply expressive and knowledgeable about the word of God, and they might even be quick to volunteer for service activities. But when God checks on them, they are found to be lacking: all leaves, no fruit. They are on the road to being cut down.


Scripture informs us that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). When the Spirit is present, when He dwells in us, His fruit is manifested. The soul who lives in anger, impatience, recklessness, and selfishness is not demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit.


Pastor Richie said it well: there is no fake fruit, and there is no "almost" fruit. God is the caretaker in the garden of our lives: He knows what He has poured into us, and He knows what we are releasing into the world. My friends, I pray that each of us who claim to know Him will be found living for Him, looking like Him, and loving through Him.