Tag: Fruit

What Fruit Do You Wanna Produce???

So… Here are the big points from the previous two posts.  

God, our Father, is the Gardner.  

Christ is the True Vine.  

We are branches grafted into the True Vine.  

We who grow and mature in Christianity go through times of bearing fruit and times of pruning, which leads to bearing even more fruit in the future.  Our growth and maturity are entirely dependent on how much we eat and drink from the True Vine. It is interesting that Christ never said what kind of fruit His followers would produce… only that they would produce fruit in abundance when they remain in Him.

What kind of fruit should be hanging from our limbs?  

First… Play my silly game here.  First check out 1 Corinthians 13*4 – 8

“4 Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails ….”

Now, this is where we get a little silly… go through the passage again.  This time, substitute in the word “Christ” for the word “Love” and its references as follows:

4 Christ is patient,

Christ is kind. 

Christ does not envy,

Christ does not boast,

Christ is not proud. 

5 Christ is not rude,

Christ is not self-seeking,

Christ is not easily angered,

Christ keeps no record of wrongs. 

6 Christ does not delight in evil but

rejoices with the truth. 

7 Christ always protects,

always trusts,

always hopes,

always perseveres.

8 Christ never fails.

In this game, does every statement made about love equally hold true about Christ?

This silly little game answers the question, “What kind of fruit should be hanging from our limbs?”  Galatians 5 confirms the answer.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

Take a gander at the different components of the fruit we are to produce in abundance. The chart shows the English word, the actual Greek word used in Paul’s letter, and a very quick summary of the Greek word’s meaning:

       English               Greek             Summary, not all-inclusive 

LoveAgapeThis could be considered the rind that’s wrapped around all the other attributes… again, check out 1 Corinthians 13 
JoyCharaA delight or joy
PeaceEireneThe object of God’s promise and is brought about by His mercy, granting deliverance and freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as a result of sin
PatienceMakrothumiaAble to keep our temper under control when interacting with people.  It is associated with mercy
KindnessChrestotesIt is the grace, tenderness, and compassion in action which infuses the whole nature, mellowing all which would have been harsh
GoodnessAgathosyneThe qualities of good, as defined and judged by God
FaithfulnessPistisFirm persuasion, conviction, belief in the truth, reality, or faithfulness of something
GentlenessPrautesA condition of mind and heart which demonstrates gentleness, not in weakness but in power.  It is the difference between meekness and weakness
Self-controlEnkrateiaThe ability to keep oneself in check is in direct proportion to one’s ability to yield to God’s will.

Most of this fruit has the same characteristics of love described in 1 Corinthians 13, and those can easily be found in Christ Jesus, the True Vine we are grafted into.  The fruit of the light (goodness, righteousness, and truth) mentioned in Ephesians 5*9 describes more characteristics of Christ; again with the English and Greek words, and the Greek word’s meaning:

     English                 Greek         Summary 

GoodnessAgathosyneThe qualities of good, as defined and judged by God
Righteousness DikaiosuneConformity to the claims of a higher authority and stands as an opposite to lawlessness.
TruthAletheiaGod’s version and understanding of the absolute, indisputable truths underlying all things…

My friend…

who we are and the way we do things IS the fruit that comes from True Vine,

regardless of what we do (both for the believers; and as a vocation, profession, or career) and where we live.

This is the fruit we grafted branches must bear so that all will see that our fruit always proves the truth of the True Vine!

Is there something about Christianity that baffles you?  Leave a comment, or DM me through Facebook or Instagram

Facebook  = facebook.com/eric.anderson.vtgw

Instagram  = apsdrums

Email = viewthrugodword@gmail.com

Here is to us spending time in God’s Word each day.  It is the best ground we can sink our roots into each and every day.  Life gets interesting when we view the world through the filter of God’s Word.

Tootles!

What We Can Learn From Trees: Part 2

The last post closed out with a quick review of some ideas about our roots.  Our roots are not seen by most people. They see the tree we’ve become without ever seeing the roots that feed us.  It is common for us to ignore our roots until we realize there is something wrong with the rest of the tree. The ground around our roots provides the general care and feeding that we need to grow, mature, and bring forth good fruit.  It is easy to pick out bad ground and good ground. Ground that has a mixture of bad and good soil, like the Reverse Golden Rule, may affect our fruit in ways we do not fully appreciate.

Though the focus was on the roots, the same can easily be said about whatever our base of support is: for the roots, it is the ground around them; for the branch, it is the trunk; for the limb, it is the branch; for the fruit, it is the limb.  In essence, those we’re plugged into that sustains us are the ones who determine the quality of the fruit we produce… and EVERY tree is recognized by its fruit.

We’re digging into who supports us: who are our roots buried in? What kind of tree or vine are we grafted into today?  This must be dealt with before we can look at the fruit.

Look at the ground your roots are in = The Fig Tree in the Vineyard in Luke 13*6 – 9

  • What people see = The owner was looking at the fruit.
    • Problem = there has been no fruit on this tree for three years
    • Owner’s Solution: remove the tree
  • Vinedresser realized the ground may be the problem and offers…
    • Vinedresser’s Solution = Feed the tree (improve the ground around the roots)
  • At their parting, they agreed the vinedresser would give the tree focused attention and love for a year.
    • This is a game of patience so do not look for overnight success.
    • It’s been said, “It takes 20 years to become an overnight success.”  
    • It may take some time and focused attention before others begin to notice that fruit is growing on the tree
  • The owner would return in a year to pick figs from this tree.
    • The tree stays if it bears fruit…
    • The tree gets cut down if it is unfruitful
  • We do not know the outcome
    • We can predict the outcome
    • Better yet, we can determine the outcome for ourselves by making the ground around our roots a lot better

Can you improve the ground around your roots? = Luke 13*6 – 9

  • Fertilize, add nutrition
    • Content consumption; regardless of the source… yep, it does affect us
  • Remove other things that move in on your ground
    • Perhaps there is too much stuff on the ground above us that prevents water and oxygen from reaching us – gotta clear the clutter from above
    • Perhaps there are too many other roots from other plants around us that are getting to the water and nutrients before our roots do – gotta remove those who are depriving us of the spiritual food and water we need.
      • Content consumption; regardless of the source… yep, it does affect us
      • We reflect the 5 people we interact with the most: this includes the you tubers and Instagram influencers we follow and subscribe to, as well as the authors, lyricists, and bloggers we read.  Any content we consistently consume (regardless of transmission method) influences us.
      • Read the Word each day… the same principle applies: we radiate the content we consistently consume… such content affects the quality of the fruit we bring forth.
  • I remember chatting with a friend whose worldview is greatly shaped by all things South Park.  I love Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s social commentary on the trending issues of the day, but I do not subscribe to every point they bring up.  Those who are figuring out their understanding of the human species can easily absorb Trey and Matt’s interpretation of current events, principles, philosophies, ideologies, and theologies and take them as “gospel.”  Their logic may seem rational, but it does not always hold up well to the Word of God.

While we are looking at the ground, check out Matthew 13*1 – 9  & 18 – 23, Mark 4*1 – 8 & 13 – 20, and Luke 8*4 – 8 & 11 – 15: The Parable of the Sower.  This parable is all about the condition of our hearts when we hear the Word of God as told by Christ through the analogy of the ground, the seed, and the resulting plants. As we go through these four types of ground, ask…

“What type of ground are my roots buried in?”

The Path, where the seed gets trampled on or carried away 

  • Hears the word
  • Does not understand the Word
  • Snatched away by the evil one (Satan, the devil)
  • Never stood a chance to bear fruit

Rocky Places, came up quickly but scorched and torched by the sun

  • Hears the word
  • Receives with joy
  • Has no root
  • Lasts a short time
  • Believes for a little while
  • Cannot handle trouble, testing and  persecution
  • Quickly falls away.
  • Was not alive long enough to reach maturity and bear fruit

Among The Thorns, choked out

  • Hears the word
  • Choked out by
    • Worries of this life
    • Deceitfulness of wealth
    • Desire for other things. 
  • Reaches maturity but bears no fruit – like the fig tree in the vineyard

Good Soil, abundantly productive

  • Hears the Word
  • Understands it
  • Accepts it
  • Retains it
  • Perseveres
  • And produces a crop far greater than the seed itself

Ask again…

“What type of ground are my roots buried in?”

Perhaps it is time to transplant.

There is one of two ways a transplant can happen.  Either relocate the entire tree or vine to a new location, or cut branches that can be salvaged out of a dying tree and grafted them into a healthy tree that enables the branch to grow, flourish, and bring forth fruit.  Either way, the idea is for us to change who sustains us. Christ Jesus talks about spiritual grafting in John 15…

5 I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.  6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.  8 This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.    John 15*5 – 8

Chapters could be written on these four verses alone, but I’m not going there today!  Christ’s word picture is crystal clear: quick summary…

  • Christ is the Vine
  • Each of us is a branch
  • Remain in Christ to…
    • Produce a lot of fruit
    • Ask and receive
    • The Father’s glory
  • Don’t remain in Christ
    • Get cut out 
    • Be disposed of
  • Get it?!?!?!

Paul takes it a step further in Romans 11: Grafting is the act of transplanting a small branch or limb of a tree into a trunk or larger branch of another tree (John 15). This means change and adjustment so embrace the suck, accept the challenge, transplant not only for survival but more so… for a better and eternal life!!!

17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not boast over those branches.  If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.  19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”  20 Granted.  But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.  Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either.  22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness.  Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.  24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!     Romans 11*17 – 24

The highlights of this passage

  • The roots support us
  • Us wild branches were grafted into the cultivated olive tree
  • Natural branches were cut out, so do not think we wild branches cannot suffer the same outcome
  • Natural branches can easily be grafted back in

Know that being a part of this tree or vine will be painful at times, as described in John 15…

1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener.  2 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.  3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  4 Remain in Me and I will remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. John 15*1 – 4

Again, the quick summary

  • Christ is the True Vine
  • The Father is the Gardner
  • We are the branches in the True Vine
    • Produce Fruit = Get pruned (trimmed back a little at a time) to bring forth more and better fruit in the future
    • Don’t Produce Fruit = Cut off

This is the believer’s life.  We experience the joy of being in Christ, and, at the same time, we feel the minor pain of the pruning we must endure to become more fruitful as our days continue on the globe.

There are numerous references to fruit in the New Testament.  All of them are great, yet irrelevant when we realize our roots are not grafted into the True Vine.  The clutter above our roots might be the barrier that prevents water and oxygen from reaching us. Maybe the ground around us is too shallow so we cannot handle the heat.  Perchance, there are too many other thorns growing up around us that are choking us out. Our goal is to be in the rich soil or the True Vine that is the catalyst that builds and sustains us as we produce fruit that is 100 times greater than ourselves!!!

God, the Father, is the Gardner.  Christ, our True Vine. Us, the branches that are supported, fed, and hydrated by the True Vine.  We may get our limbs and branches clipped from time to time. That is the Father’s pruning. Though it may be painful, it is not nearly as bad as being entirely cut off because we bear no fruit.  Believers have their reward in heaven, not here on Earth. Yet, the joy of sharing the fruit from the True Vine is ours in abundance every day. Such joy will carry us through the pruning seasons because we know that greater fruit will be harvested in future years!!!

Now… we can get into the fruit we branches can produce.  I am excited to about this. Candidly, looking at New Testament fruit metaphors and analogies was the original idea for this series.  Then I dug deeper into the Word and realized that the quality of the trees needed to be discussed before chit chats about fruit could take place. The next few posts will look at the fruit we branches of the True Vine can produce.

Is there something about Christianity that baffles you?  Leave a comment, or DM me through Facebook or Instagram

Facebook  = facebook.com/eric.anderson.vtgw

Instagram  = apsdrums

Email = viewthrugodword@gmail.com

Here is to us branches spending time in God’s Word each day.  It is the best ground we can sink our roots into each and every day.  Life gets interesting when we view the world through the filter of God’s Word.

Tootles!

What Can We Learn From Trees…? Part 1

Christ Jesus is our master… of this I am supremely confident.  He was the master of word pictures while on earth. The imagery He used when calling out the Pharisees in Matthew 23 is priceless!  And how about all the word pictures He painted in the listeners’ minds (and ours too) during the Sermon on the Mount. However, there is one idea based on His imagery that I have been obsessing over to a while now.  It has both inspired and stalled my writing of late.  

Inspired… because this word picture puts Christianity and life in perspective with immaculate clarity.

Stalled… because I’d think I had the idea nailed down and then another variable would demand attention before I could start writing.  

The Word of God is silly like that: there is sooooooooooooooooo much content available, and there is so much depth to God’s Word.  So, between the amount of words and the depth of God’s Word, new levels of knowledge, understanding, insight, and wisdom emerge as we continuously read and consume God’s Word.  Sorry for getting side tracked… back to Christ’s word pictures!!!

The picture that has stuck to my heart and mind has to do with trees and vines and plants and other vegetation.  Christ built parables around such word pictures to put our relationship with God, Christ, ourselves, and other people in perspective.  Some other New Testament writers equally drew similar landscapes in our hearts and minds for the same reasons.  

Digging into this has been a great source of excitement, motivation, and joy for me; and I am very eager to share it with those who are willing to continue reading.  

There is a lot to see when we look at trees.  However, the most overlooked part of a tree is the most important part for us who profess Christ Jesus as Lord: Our Roots

People do not see our roots.  They see what we do, hear what we say, and feel the emotions we share with them.  But, people do not know who we are and why we do what we do. Sadly, there are more than enough believers in Christ that do not know themselves or why they do the things they do.  This is a root issue, not a tree issue. Let’s look at our roots and ask the following questions:

  • Are our roots deep or shallow… more accurately, are our roots at the right depth and width to support our continuing growth?  
  • Are our roots growing?  
  • Do our roots feed the tree?

Each type of tree has a unique root system that supports its growth.  Roots of a Redwood are relatively shallow when compared to the tree’s height.  Interestingly though, the roots of each Redwood interconnect with nearby companions, thus forming a root network that binds them together. There may be five or six trees that enable each tree to stand when the high winds come sweeping through the forest.  And that one tree equally supports each of the other five or six trees surrounding it.  

We usually do not look at the roots until we see there is something wrong with the branches, leaves, and or fruit. People see the problems too, but they rarely look at our roots… the things below the surface that are feeding the problem.  Eventually, we gaze in the mirror… searching for who we are more so than gazing at the face in the mirror. We know there is a disconnect between the roots and the rest of the tree. That is us inspecting our roots. Such moments of introspection are brought on by some humiliating, embarrassing,  or catastrophic event in life.

The ground around our roots provides the general care and feeding that we need to grow, mature, and bring forth good fruit. 

  • Are our roots getting the right amount of water?
  • Does oxygen find its way down to our roots?
  • Does the ground around our roots provide the right food?

We surround ourselves with people.  Spiritually speaking, human interaction is the fruit our roots consume.  This includes the ideas, content, and interactions we sink our roots into through computers, smart phones, TV, radio, books, and any other form of media; as everything we access is the product of human thought, feeling and creativity.  

  • Does the content inspire, motivate, and encourage?
  • Does the content ooze and drip with hate and ill-will? 

The extremes of the dichotomy are easy to pick out.  However, our roots feast on what people do more far more than on what people say!  The unspoken message of action we received in our formative years from parents, siblings, friends, teachers, pastors and preachers, or coaches continue to influence us today.  Unfortunately, such well-intentioned people (by their actions) may have put the wrong fertilizer on top of our roots. Here is one example of this scenario… let’s call it the Reverse Golden Rule.

A lot of people understand the concept of the “Golden Rule:” do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  We talk this concept up all the time. We say it to our kids, students, and players; and even bring up this “rule” when reprimanding them for the way they treated another kid. 

BUUUUUUUUT… our Modus Operandi is contrary to our words. When the message of our actions is contrary to our mouth’s words, Darren Hardy says, in his book “The Compound Effect”, which message we always adhere to…

“If you tell me you want to be healthy,

but you’ve got Dorito dust on your fingers,

I’m believing the Doritos.” 

He summarizes his point in the paragraph by saying, “…your behavior rats you out every time.”

Darren is not breaking new ground here.  Christ shared the same idea when He said,

Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. Luke 6*44 

Our true message is found in what we do, more than what we say!!!

We talk “the Golden Rule” and we talk about “the Golden Rule”, but we teach, do, and pass along the “Reverse Golden Rule” to generations that follow ours.

The Reverse Golden Rule is based on the Rule of Reciprocity: I will respond in kind, treating you the way you treated me.  Our Modus Operandi is completely dependent on reciprocity… 

  • I will respect you because you respected me
  • I will love you because you loved me
  • I will hate you because you hated me

This Reverse Golden Rule (the soil our roots are deeply embedded in) is based on a condition or contingency we maintain within ourselves: 

“your conduct and behavior influences and determines the way I act and behave towards you.” 

This is our Modus Operandi, handed down from our parents and grandparents generations.  

Christ did not teach this, and this Modus Operandi was not part of His Daily Do!  He taught us, in Matthew 5, to…

  • … Turn the other cheek v 39
  • … Give your cloak too v 40
  • … Go the extra mile v 41

In context, He calls us to be like this and to do such things WHILE we’re being shit on.  

  • If (after) someone strikes you on the right cheek… turn to him the other also
  • If (after) someone wants to sue you and take your tunic… let him have your cloak as well
  • If (after) someone forces you to go one mile… go with him two miles

Each scenario demands that we go against the Reverse Golden Rule and toward the “Golden Rule.”  Christ’s teaching (the better soil our roots need to be embedded in) removes the contingency and conditions of reciprocity, the principal element of the Reverse Golden Rule, as a factor that determines the way we treat other people.  

What does “the Golden Rule” say?

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7*12

The King James Version sequences the over all thought very effectively.  It states first to set our minds on what we wish men should do to us. Make sure our hearts and minds are clear on the way we want to be treated by others… first!!!  Then, with such ideas in heart and mind, treat others in such ways regardless of how they treat us (refer back to Matthew 5).

Our desire for the way we want to be treated is what determines the way we are to treat others. 

Another person’s attitude, behavior, and conduct towards us is not even mentioned in what we now call “The Golden Rule.”  

We expect reciprocity.  We may even demand it of other people.  

But Christ was anti reciprocity.  Christ taught to treat others the way we desire to be treated… REGARDLESS of the way they treat us.  

  • The way we treat others IS NOT contingent on the way they treat us.  
  • There is no relationship between the two.   
  • There is NO promise [not even an implication] that we will receive a reciprocal action  

We who expect reciprocity are always disappointed and pissed off when what goes around does not come back around to us.  Thus it shall continue until we understand and fully accept that adding reciprocity to the golden rule becomes the chief ingredient in the recipe for disaster.  

The long rant about Rules and Reciprocity is just one example of some fruit our roots may feast upon that is not good for us as trees in Christ Jesus.  The fruit we produce is immensely affected by what our roots consume.

The next post will dig into (get it?!?!?!?!?) some things we can do for our roots.  

Our roots are not seen by most people.  People see the tree we’ve become without ever seeing the roots that feed us.  It is common for us to ignore our roots until we realize there is something wrong with the rest of the tree.  The ground around our roots provides the general care and feeding that we need to grow, mature, and bring forth fruit of Christ.  It is easy to distinguish between bad ground and good ground. Ground that has a mixture of bad and good, like the Reverse Golden Rule, may affect our fruit in ways we do not fully appreciate.

Is there something about Christianity that baffles you?  Leave a comment, or DM me through Facebook or Instagram

Facebook  = facebook.com/eric.anderson.vtgw

Instagram  = apsdrums

Here is to us spending time in God’s Word each day.  It is the best ground we can sink our roots into each and every day.  Life gets interesting when we view the world through the filter of God’s Word.

Tootles!