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FRUIT INSPECTION

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits."

Matthew 7:15-20

Not everything is as it appears. Words can sound convincing. Appearances can look right. Deception can be subtle, and sometimes it is easy to be taken in. But over time, the truth is revealed by fruit. At first this sounds like Jesus is warning us about others—but it is also an invitation to examine our own lives.

Jesus calls us to be watchful and fruitful and do a bit of fruit inspecting. This is about authenticity. Fruit is the natural growth of what is being nourished in our lives. A tree doesn’t strain to produce fruit—it simply reveals what it is. What grows out of our lives reveals what is truly within us. Character, actions, patterns, and the impact we have on others are some examples of fruit. Fruit takes time to grow, and it reveals the health of the root.

Just as a healthy tree naturally produces good fruit and a diseased tree produces bad fruit, a true servant of God will eventually reveal good fruit, such as holiness, humility, love, and integrity: a life that points people to Christ. Bad fruit includes greed, immorality, pride, division, twisting of God’s Word, self-promotion, or teachings that turn people away from God.

When our lives are rooted in God, the fruit will gradually reflect His character. God longs to transform us by His Spirit. When we bring our hearts honestly before Him, He begins to reshape us from the inside out. In time, what is inside will always show on the outside.

Transforming God,

You see beyond our outward appearance into our hearts. Forgive us for the times our lives do not reflect Your love. Change us from within. Replace pride with humility, harshness with compassion, and self-centeredness with grace. Make our faith genuine so that what we show on the outside flows from a heart that is truly shaped by You.

Help us to see clearly what is growing in our lives. Examine our hearts and reveal anything that does not reflect Your character. Reveal anything in us that is producing unhealthy fruit. Shape us from the inside out so that our lives produce good fruit. Keep us rooted in You so that we reflect Your goodness to others.

Amen.

What is growing in your life? Is your fruit sweet or is it bitter, or is it plastic? Today, stop and consider what fruit you are producing. Does your outward faith match your inward life? Are you becoming more like Christ in your attitudes, not just your actions? Take time and inspect your fruit. Compare your fruit to the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23:

“…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

If these are not qualities you can honestly say you have, then fix it. Fertilize your tree. Let your fruit be good, not bad. Get rid of whatever is poisoning your fruit. Our attitudes, our words, our reactions, and the way we treat others all show in our lives as fruit.

 Jesus’ teaching is not meant to shame us, but to help us see clearly. If we notice unhealthy fruit in our lives, it is not just a behavior issue, it is a root issue. But our roots can be nurtured. Good fruit grows from a heart rooted in God When we tend to our roots, instead of focusing only on outward behavior, we bring our hearts before God and allow Him to do deeper work within us. When we stay connected to God—through prayer, Scripture, and surrender—He begins to transform us from the inside out. Over time, the fruit changes because the source is changing. Because what grows in us will eventually show through us.