Flourishing in Fruit: Our Conduct is Our Fruit (Part 2)

The Fruit of Righteousness   

    In our last lesson we learned about the fruit of repentance and how Paul’s rebuke (see 1 Corinthians 5) led the Corinthian brethren to bear that fruit (2 Corinthians 7:8-12). I believe we can also conclude that the Corinthians went on to bear the fruit of righteousness, because Hebrews 12:11 teaches us that God’s chastening yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness by those who are trained by it. When we are corrected by God (through His word, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 1:16-17) and allow ourselves to be molded and trained by what He says – repenting by removing the bad and implementing the good (just as the Corinthians brethren did) – then we, too, can go on to develop the fruit of righteousness!

    In Philippians 1:9-11 we read Paul’s prayer for the brethren in Philippi:

• that their love might abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment (v9)
• that they might approve the things that are excellent (v10)
• that they may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ (v10)
• be filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God (v11)

    Righteousness is doing what is approved by God. For example: walking in love (Ephesians 5:1-7, 1 John 4:7-11), walking in the light (John 3:16-21, Ephesians 5:8-14), and walking in wisdom (Ephesians 5:15-21). It is the daily, ongoing determination to obey God’s commands and instructions (1 John 3:7), not our own notions of what we think is “right’ or ‘good’ (consider 1 Corinthians 10:2-3). Read and think on 1 John 2:3-6; if we walk just as Jesus walked and follow His steps (1 Peter 2:20-24) we can be sure of the path - and God will be glorified!

“He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honour.” (Proverbs 21:21 NKJV)

    Another needed part for the production of this fruit is found in James 3:18; there James tells us that the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace (James 3:18). He states this truth immediately after talking of the untamable tongue and the need for wisdom that comes from above (Hebrews 3:1-17); a wisdom that teaches us good conduct (good fruit production) by purifying our hearts/minds of cursing, bitter envy, and self-seeking.

    God’s wisdom enables us to live in peace (and contentment, Philippians 4:4-13), because when we walk uprightly (Psalm 37:37), we can be at peace with God (1 John 1:9, Acts 8:21-24) and with man (Matthew 5:22-26, 44-48, Ephesians 4:26-27). We are to pursue peace with all people (Hebrews 12:14, Romans 12:18, 1 Timothy 2:1-4), without it we cannot hope to see God. If we want to be aligned with God, we must ask Him for wisdom (James 1:5) and use that wisdom to develop the fruit of righteousness (Ephesians 5:17)!

    What you do is your fruit. What are you doing?  

    Do you recall God to your mind each morning, ask Him for wisdom, and determine to walk with careful consideration of His commands and instructions throughout your day? Do you do your very best to learn what is right in God's sight by reading and studying His word and by putting it into practice; making it an ongoing effort throughout your lifetime so you can abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment (Hebrews 5:14)? Do you train yourself to recall God's instructions to your mind and follow them so that you can walk in sincerity and without offence and live in peace with Him and with mankind? These choices will encourage the fruit of righteousness to develop and flourish in our lives!

You can do it! So can I!!

 

Flourishing in Fruit: Our Conduct is Our Fruit (Part 1)

    While our hearts and minds are where the buds originate, and where they can be allowed to blossom, it is the next step of development that makes our fruit obvious to others: our conduct; the end result of our thoughts and intentions is the fruit we produce.

Fruit Worthy of Repentance  

    John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1) prepared the way for Jesus’ ministry, telling people, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). He told the Pharisees and Sadducees that they needed to prepare themselves and “bear fruit worthy of repentance” (Matthew 3:8, Luke 3:8).

    Repentance is acknowledging your sin and being abhorred by it, not wanting to return to it, and it embraces a new daily determination to follow a better course and to make better choices. Think about the second half of Romans 12:9 as an easy to remember definition of repentance: “Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.”

    True repentance isn’t just saying ‘sorry’ for sinning and then going on with life without a new direction, determination, or purpose – consider Matthew 12:43-45 – the old ways (that led us into sin) must be removed and replaced with new ways – God’s ways! Please read and meditate on Ephesians 2:1-10 and Titus 3:8, 14.

    In 2 Corinthians 7:8-11, Paul rejoiced that the brethren in Corinth heard his rebuke (against their sin), were made sorry by it, and that their sorrow led to repentance. They were made sorry in a “godly manner.” Consider what he says to them:

“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produces in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” (2 Corinthians 7:10-11 NKJV)

    The Corinthians did not regret giving up the sin that separated them from God, they sorrowed for having committed it, and because they wanted to be free from it they became diligent to clear themselves of it (turned wholly from it, with absolute determination never to return to it, Romans 13:14); they were angry with themselves for committing this sin against God, and their proper fear of Him increased and motivated them to quickly make it right. They proved themselves to be repentant by their vehement desire and zeal to do what was needed and right in God’s sight (consider 2 Peter 3:9) – they truly bore the fruit of repentance!

    What you do is your fruit. What are you doing?  

    If you have sinned, upon realizing your sin, do you immediately begin to produce the fruit of repentance by following the example given of the Corinthians’ godly sorrow? Do you think on your wholesome fear of God, turn from your sin and the path that led you there, ask God for forgiveness, and give renewed focus and effort to getting back to following Jesus’ footsteps? Are you showing God, and others, that you are willing to make changes and sacrifices for good? Do you bear the fruit of repentance?

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourishing In Fruit – We Must First Be Mindful of the Bud

    This post began as what would have been a small side note in this series, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt that this matter is worth our whole attention. It is vital that we develop honest and reliable eyes that will carefully examine the buds that develop through our habits (as we work to replace the bad ones with good, Colossians 3:1-17, Ephesians 4:21-24) and those buds that can crop up unexpectedly.  

    Jesus gave instruction throughout his teaching to be watchful of our hearts – hatred and murder begin there with angry thoughts and lack of mercy (Matthew 5:21-26, 44-48), and adultery begins there with lustful thoughts and lack of self-control (Matthew 5:28, Ephesians 5:2-7, Romans 13:14). God through the apostle Paul gave warning to the Ephesians, and to us, to resolve anger within the day of its very budding so that you do give not place (foothold) to the devil (Ephesians 4:26-27, and consider Genesis 4:7, and we are to help others in this matter, Hebrews 3:12-13).

“Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on.” (Proverbs 4:14-15 NKJV)

    We need to be always watchful and nip bad/wrong thoughts in the bud to keep them from blossoming because if we don’t, all too quickly an opportunity will present itself and if we have allowed corrupt thoughts to flourish, our energies will be used to produce the outcome we are nurturing and that fruit is sin (James 1:14-15 and consider Romans 6:15-21).

Irritated with your husband? Nip that bud by praying to God about it; give it all to Him, and ask Him for wisdom (James 1:5). Then talk to your husband with love and respect (Ephesians 5:33), and work on a resolution together; always remembering that you also have tendencies and habits that can irritate him!

Angry with a family member, friend, neighbour, coworker, ‘that stranger who cut you off,’ etc.? Nip that bud and take your troubles to God, ask Him for wisdom. Talk to your family member, friend, neighbour, or coworker, peacefully (consider Romans 12:17-18 and James 3:17-18). Whether it is someone you know, or a stranger, someone you talk with regularly or someone you are unable to talk with, always be sure to read and apply Jesus’ instruction in Matthew 5:44-48, His example in 1 Peter 2:20-24, and Paul’s instruction in Romans 12:19-21.   

Immoral thoughts toward a male friend, neighbour, coworker, celebrity, etc.? Nip that bud by praying to God about it and asking His forgiveness, ask His help to find better ways to spend your free time (read your Bible, visit the widows, the sick, etc.). Don’t think that just because it’s budding privately* in your mind that it is okay to keep it – the fruit it can develop is deadly and will decay, if not destroy, more than you can imagine. *You may think your thoughts are hidden but God is aware of your thoughts (consider Genesis 6:5, 1 Chronicles 28:9, and 1 Corinthians 3:18-20) and He wants you to acknowledge them so you can remove what is certain to become bad fruit while it is in its beginning stages of development.

• If you are married, recall to your mind Matthew 5:28 (it applies to women looking at men, too!). Don’t let that bud develop into the blossom of flirtation (if it is a celebrity, don’t feed your fantasy with more movies/shows), think on the fact that you are a Christian, a child of God (Ephesians 5:1-7)! Recall your wedding vows (your promise before God) to your husband and consider Proverbs 31:10-11 – let the heart of your husband safely trust you to be faithful with your whole heart and with your whole mind! Read and consider Hebrews 13:4-5.
• If you are unmarried, recall to your mind Matthew 5:28 (it applies to women looking at men, too!). You are doing yourself no favours by nurturing the improper thoughts that can bud in your mind. Take heed of the advice, given three times, by the Shulamite in the Song of Solomon: “Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases.” (2:7, 3:5, and 8:4) – Until a man is rightfully yours (in marriage), do not allow improper thoughts to blossom because they can all too easily become actions! Read and consider 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Hebrews 12:14-17, and Hebrews 13:4-5.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24 NKJV)

    Just as the farmer is watchful of bud formation knowing it leads to fruit, we also need to be very attentive to what 'buds' in our hearts/minds and determine whether that bud ought to be nipped immediately or nurtured to blossom and develop fruit. We need to be using God’s word (hearing it and doing it, James 1:21-27) so that our senses are exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:13-14).

    From wherever you are right now, begin to examine the buds developed (and developing) in your mind; nip the bad ones to allow room for the good ones to flourish! The health of your soul is worth the daily, if not the moment to moment, efforts needed to keep yourself pure (1 John 3:3) and holy (1 Peter 1:15-16) so you flourish even more in 2024 in good fruit!!

You can do it! So can I!!