Readings:
Joshua 5:9-12;
Psalm 32;
2 Cor 5:16-end;
Luke 15:1-3,11b-end

Collect:
Merciful Lord,
you know our struggle to serve you;
when sin spoils our lives and overshadows our hearts,
come to our aid and turn us back to you again;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 

Reflection - The Vine, The Fruit and The Christians

I was recently in the fruit section of the supermarket where I have been countless times, but I’ve never really taken the time to consider the sheer varieties of fruits available, even fruits of the same kind. For example, I counted about six different types of apple, five different types of orange, about four different types of strawberry. As I reflected on the wonders of God’s creation that has yielded enormous amount of fruits, I began to realise why the bible and Jesus in particular seem to speak about fruit in reference to our relationship with God. 

At the time the canons of the bible were written, the prevalent occupation at that period was farming; and it is no surprise therefore that the bible has a lot to say about vineyard and fruit. The imagery of vine and fruit was adopted several times through the pages of the bible to describe how children of God are expected to flourish and be fruitful on earth.  Let us consider few bible passages about fruit and fruitfulness – pause and reflect between each passage. 

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (Matthew 7:16-20) 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25) 

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. (John 15:1-2) 

Then he told this parable: ―A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, For three years now I‘ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven‘t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil? ―Sir, the man replied, ‗leave it alone for one more year, and I‘ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down. (Luke 13:6-9)

Jesus commands his followers to bear fruit (John 15:16). Christians have often understood this to mean evangelism–getting others to follow Jesus. But we all know that you can‘t give to someone else what you don‘t already have. Bearing fruit starts with you! You can‘t share fruit until you bear fruit. 

Just like the supermarket fruit isles, the image of fruit, vines, and vineyards is found throughout the Bible. Who can forget the imagery of Psalm 1:3 that compares those who do the right thing to trees planted by streams of water that bear fruit and never die? In Galatians 6:8, Paul reminds us that we reap what we sow. Just a few verses earlier he lists for us the fruits of the Spirit. 

The interesting thing about farming metaphors is the cooperation between grace and effort, gift and work. The farmer can plant the seed, but he can‘t make it grow. He can cultivate the plant, but he can‘t make the sun shine, or the rain fall. He is very dependent on God‘s grace and gifts in this regard. The farmer knows that growth is the first gift of God and every Christians should know that growth in the Spirit is also the gift of God. It is crucial to realise that being fruitful is not something that is accomplished by mere human willpower, but only by the power of God and His Holy Spirit working in and through believers in Christ. Being fruitful is a work of God's grace.

We must also consider that not all fruits will make it to the supermarket shelf either because they have gone bad or because they are not edible; hence it is not just about being fruitful, but it is about producing good fruits that will last. Good fruit cannot be judged on mere external acts. If that were the case, then the Pharisees would be the most fruitful of all people. Instead, Jesus calls them white-washed tombs because although they appear good on the outside, inside they are rotten. They are not motivated by love for Jesus and their aim is not to glorify God. Instead, they are motivated by self-righteousness with the aim of appearing righteous before men (Matthew 23:5–7). They bear bad fruit disguised as good fruit. 

So, what does this fruit look like? Good fruit is seen in a change in our disposition, attitudes, affections, and actions. We love others with the love of Christ. We more easily, as we are given opportunity, we seek to do good to everyone. Living a fruitful Christian life is the calling for every believer. Not that we chose Jesus, He chose us, He has called us to be His friends and appointed us to be fruitful! Are you bearing fruit for Christ to the glory of the Father in heaven?

 Adedayo Adebiyi