I've really been thinking of something to write this past week. So much goes through my mind on a weekly basis, it's hard to pick out something and to write about it. It can be a blessing though. It's not like I have writer's block, it almost seems like I wrestle with an opposite. I have such a hunger for knowledge in the Bible (Not bragging) that sometimes I can't even pick out something to read. I just want to read the whole Bible all at once! Doesn't quite work like that, but that's a good hunger. So I just took a thought that was peculating in my mind and decided that was what I'm going to write about. So this post is going to be about taking root in the Bible, and bearing good fruit. Now, we've all heard the, "Good Fruit," sermon. It's quite popular in the Bible in fact, Jesus expounded on bearing good fruit quite often in his time of ministry.
First Glance:
Bearing fruit is a depiction on our life in Christ Jesus. We either bear good fruit, or we bear rotten fruit. Obviously good fruit representing righteousness and rotten fruit representing sin. Our fruit is measured by God. If he picks our fruit and likes it, he's going to take pleasure. Here's an example. I don't know if you like fruit, (I've never met anyone who didn't like some kind of fruit) but my favorite is a good peach. When I get a hold of a good ripe peach and take a bite, my natural reaction is to tell whoever is near me that I don't know how anyone couldn't like a fresh, ripe peach. I enjoy eating ripe peaches. It makes me want to go buy more. I'm well pleased with that peach to say the least. God is a hungry God. He want's ALL our worship, our praise, the glory, the honor; he wants all of us. He's a jealous God. He wants us to diligently seek him. Wholeheartedly. These are big words folks. God measures the heart. "I the LORD search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." (Jer 17:10) So when he picks our fruit, he's either going to take pleasure in it, or spit it out. God takes pleasure in our good fruit. He enjoys our good fruit. He gets glory in our good fruit. He's hungry, and he wants more. Rotten fruit however, is different. God abhors rotten fruit. He abhors sin. Sin will not enter heaven. Sin is the ultimate separation between God and man. When he tastes fruit that's rotten he spits it out. Have you ever eaten a non-ripe persimmon? Or how about some good ol pecan shell? It's disgusting. It'll make you want to go run over it in your drive way, just because. Maybe it's your wife's cooking. (I'm not married yet so I'm off the hook for now, to be continued) Ever drank rotten milk? Or have you ever done the cinnamon challenge? It makes you want to gag, and you most likely will, and in all actuality, I guarantee you'll spit it out and it probably won't be a pretty sight. See, this is how our rotten fruit is to God. It's not just him spitting it out because it's just average. He either loves it, or hates it. And if he hates it, he spits it out. He spews it. The Bible says you're either hot, or you are cold. (And actually it says he spits out the lukewarm, but that's another message, for another time. Right now we are talking about your wife's cooking.) *"But since you are like lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!" Rev 3:16*
"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." Luke 6:43-45
With fruit, there must be a tree. And we are those trees. We all are going green. How about them "apples." In the Bible, the tree represents the person, fruit represents that person's works. So now the heart of the matter is now this, it all depends on what kind of tree you are. Good trees are righteous people, bad trees are wicked people. It's pretty simple actually. The Bible and the gospel are pretty straightforward, we just make it complicated. It would avail us much to adopt the practice of not making things over complicated. Never paint the picture with to broad a brush. So let's talk about ourselves, let's, "think green."
Being A Righteous Tree:
Being a righteousness tree takes some work. It's not easy, but your life depends on it.
One of the most vital elements in our walk with God is Trust and Faith. For it is written, "But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." (Jer 17:7-8) That verse just amazes me. That is the tree that we should strive to be. Lets analyze that verse. It's roots are by the stream so it's getting ample water, check! I mean that the tree (the person) is close to the life source water, (God). So we see what happens as a result; now it's not fearful or worried about the heat, check! ( heat; the punishing reality of the difficulties of life and temptation) It's leaves are always green, check! (Green; it's always healthy and pleasing to the eyes of God) It has NO WORRIES in a year (not just season) of drought, Check! And never fails to bear fruit, check! (It's implying good fruit here, the kind that God is hungry for.) So powerful that bit of scripture. And all because that person trusts in the Lord.
Let's look at the examples that the Holy Scriptures offer and learn from them, after all, that's why they are there. We see in Mark 4:1-9 the importance of good seed. The seed represents our core, our heart, our soul. Verse 5 is so powerful to me as it says, "Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up since it had no depth of soil." There is so much to learn and grasp from this verse, and I'll explain why. A healthy tree must have good, deep soil because you have to take root, And this takes some hard work! So we see good soil represents the Bible, the word of God. The seed that fell on shallow soil grew up immediately! You're probably thinking that's pretty strange. It grew fast because it hadn't "taken root." So therefore it grew nice and fast. The Bible tells us that sin is fun for a season. (Heb 11:25) And in 1 Timothy 6:10 says that money is the root of all evil. So many go chase after temporary pleasure, the soil they grow in is vain. They live in a season of fun and fake happiness but the clincher is in verse six, here's what it has to say, " And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away." Good things in life rarely come easy. Beneficial things usually take time and hard work, things that are easy to acquire usually mean nothing in the end, they are in the words of the Wise King Solomon, "All meaningless." But if you plant your heart in the word of God, and take root there in his love, you'll grow to be like the tree I mentioned earlier in Jeremiah. But, It might take some time, and some hard work. Luke 8:9-15 explains it better, 9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Stop now, and read Ephesians 3:17-20 for yourself.
What It Takes:
Water: God.
Soil: The Word of God.
Sunlight: The Holy Spirit; him leading and guiding us and transforming our heart and minds providing our spiritual food, this is our process of photosynthesis.
Air: God's love and grace; As we breath it in and absorb it, we release oxygen to the rest of the world. Being light in the darkness, giving the world flavor for we are the light of the world, and salt of the earth.
Space: Freedom in Christ; A tree grows upward, but it's roots grow outward, thus we need space; freedom. And when Christ sets us free we are free indeed. Christ set us free from the power of sin, not to sin. Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Conclusion:
Galatians 6:7-10 says, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. So let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up." This is a message of truth and hope. Don't just seek pleasure and peace from vain things like the seed in Mark 4. But til up your garden, get the weeds out and take root in God's rich soil; his rich Love, mercy, and grace. And I promise you'll receive the peace that Philippians 4:7 mentions, "God's peace that passes all understanding." You'll be like the tree in Jeremiah 17:8 and not the tree in Matt 7:19, "Every tree that does not bare good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire." But God does not want that for you, he wants so much more. He's not willing that any should perish, his whole mission is in John 3:16, and this is our hope.
Prayer:
As you read this, pray it over your own life, as I'm praying it over you and mine also.
Dear Heavenly Glorious, beautiful Father, we pray that you lavish our hearts with a knowledge and understanding of your magnificent grace and love. That we may begin to know you more and love you more for you first loved us. Remind us to stay rooted in your word so that our branches will reach out to others and that our fruit will bring you glory and honor. Thank you for your cross, and your plan of salvation through your beautiful son Jesus Christ, the hope and savior of the World. In your mighty and glorious name we pray, amen.
Be blessed,
-Cameron Germann
