Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 6:
43 “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
What happens in the Spiritual realm ultimately manifests in the physical realm and Jesus directs us to become “fruit inspectors”. We cannot judge another person’s heart but we can inspect their fruit. If they are producing little or no fruit in an area then there is something amiss. Moreover we should inspect our own fruit in areas where we believe we have revelation and we must be brutally honest with ourselves as we do the inspection. If our fruit is missing then we must seek FATHER’S input on what is causing the problem. Have I done something to cause a breach in a relationship? If so, with whom? Division and unforgiveness are often the reasons our fruit comes up short and lacking. Pride is a major cause of a person’s unwillingness to repent of past acts.
People will justify their actions by looking at the other person’s past acts which tells us that there are “conditions” to be met before they are willing to heal the breach. Unconditional Love does not wait for a set of conditions to be met but instead takes action even if the other person never changes. We must not let the other person’s issues hold us back in our growth.
There are some people who believe that they are never wrong in their words or actions yet their fruit tells us a different story. Jesus addressed this person in the following parable:
39 And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?
40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.
41 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?
42 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.
Life is too short for us to defend our past acts and words. As we mature in Christ we realize how immature we have been in the past and we should take steps to heal any breach we have initiated. If we ask FATHER to show us those past issues, HE will oblige and thus we should be prepared for a long list to be revealed. HE will provide enough detail sufficient for us to seek HIS forgiveness as well as other actions to take in order to resolve the breach. Every one of us has been guilty in this regard. Each of us has been a victim as well so we should be as quick to forgive as we want to be forgiven.
When we defer to FATHER in order to determine if we have created division, then we remove the potential for pride to blind us in this area. There are times when we need to be pruned in order for the zoe life of FATHER to be directed to fruitful areas of our calling. Dead branches simply take up resource without any fruit production. If we are not being fruitful then let us seek FATHER and find out why. Don’t be surprised when HE brings up our past acts and words that have had a negative impact on others. We should let nothing keep us from growing IN HIM for if we have a bountiful fruit harvest then we are able to “feed” those in need. They will be drawn to us because of our fruit and so let us pay close attention to the state of our fruit production.