It Looks Real

In the center of our kitchen table there is a dish that contains lush grapes, ripe strawberries, bright yellow bananas, and apples that look as if they were picked from the tree yesterday. As I gaze at this fruit it makes my mouth water at the thought of taking a bite. This must have been the same thought process as one of our grandchildren! There in the midst of that delicious fruit, I see a strawberry with a bite out of it. The half of the strawberry remaining reveals that it was an imitation. My mouth was no longer watering as I stare at this piece of Styrofoam that once was brilliantly decorated to look like a strawberry.

Fake Fruit

What looked like fresh fruit, turned out to be fake fruit! Fake fruit looks so real though! How can I tell the difference, especially when there is not a bite taken out? Matthew 7:16 explains how to recognize the fruit within us, “You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?” When talking about “our” fruit; Fake fruit is produced by man, real fruit is produced by God; This Fake fruit is not genuine, real fruit is genuine; Fake fruit has no benefits, real fruit has a lot of benefits. Sometimes we try to “fake it until we make it!” We act like we are loving, faithful, gentle and kind. God knows the fake fruit from the real fruit, “Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” Matthew 23:28. How do we grow REAL fruit? God plants the seed of His Word in our hearts. The Holy Spirit causes that seed to take root in our soul. Next, as we grow in the Lord, the vine and branches mature until sweet and satisfying fruit clusters in abundance. This genuine fruit comes from abiding in the Vine “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” John 15:4.

We Must Produce Good Fruit

The simple truth is, God is not pleased in a fruit tree that does not grow fruit… by not growing in faith through His Word. God made us, to be people of growth and action. It is His desire that we constantly seek to mature in our faith and using our faith to ignite those around us. Using our real fruit to become a servant at Church, share our faith in the community, or bring a meal to a shut-in or a couple that just had a baby. Whatever fruit we use, we must do it with the same love that God has shown us as the Apostle Paul tells us, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23) This we can do through God’s Word and prayer. Lord, cleanse the fake fruit from my heart and send Your Spiritual water to the roots deep within my soul through Your Word. Nourish the branches of my faith so abundant fruit abounds. Amen.