Fruit

In an earlier blog I wrote about how Jesus cursed an olive tree because it had no fruit on it. Usually a tree produces fruit after the type of tree that it is. God expects the same from Christians.

In Luke 3 many people came to John the Baptist to be baptized. John accused them of being a generation of vipers and asked who warned them to flee the wrath which is to come. Then in verse 8 he said, "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance."

In politics a new term has been used a lot lately. That term is RINO. Not as in Rhino. It means, "Republican in name only." Meaning that a person calls himself a republican but does not really uphold the republican values and platform.

A lot of Christians are like that, also. They claim to be Christians but fail to produce the fruit of a Christian. They fail to live the life style of a Christian. They are Christians in name only. The questions are: 1) Have you been born again? and, 2) Have you repented of your sins, and 3) are you actively living the Christian life style?

The first two of these three are relatively easy. Accepting Christ is easy. Being sorry for your sins of the past is easy. But living as a Christian, now that's the hard part. But that is where the rubber hits the road. This is where others will know who we are. This is also how we become a blessing to the kingdom of God.

I don't know about you, but my fruit tree seems a little barren lately. Perhaps I am too self absorbed. It's time to bear fruit.