“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season…” Psalm 1:3

I have several fond memories of my grandparent’s farm in October. Frost covering the grass each morning; the colorful leaves beginning to fall to the ground; the smell of wood smoke in the air; and the crisp, flavorful apples growing on the trees. They had several good apple trees scattered around their yard and garden, but my favorite were in an old grove on the other side of the barnyard. They were Jonathan’s and I loved their flavor, yet because they were untended they were small and you had to search for one without wormholes. They weren't worth harvesting and most ended up on the ground for the deer to scavenge.

Recently we stopped at a roadside fruit stand and bought a box of Jonathan’s. How big and beautiful they were! These came from trees that had been pruned and watered and fertilized. These were what Jonathan’s are supposed to be like!

Jesus said that He is the vine and we are the branches. Our life should be coming from Him and if it is, the Father expects to discover good fruit from us. What is this fruit? The Bible describes it as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Jesus cautioned that if His Father, the gardener, didn't find fruit on the branch He would begin to prune it. If we remain in Him, if our life is drawn from Him, if our roots are planted in Him and we drink in His words and stand in His light, we will produce the fruit He is looking for.

As Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruit.”

If your identity is in your race;
If your identity is in your sexuality; 
If your identity is in your politics;
If your identity is in your doctrine;
You will always try to justify yourself because 
you will not see beyond yourself.

But if your identity is in Jesus, your focus will be on wanting to please Him, and being content in fulfilling what He has called us to do. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and until the last soul has been spared the fires of hell; until the world ceases to offend its Creator, no other cause is as important. You have no rights to lose; you have a cross to bear.

“I have decided to speak only of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”