Looking for Results

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Matthew 3:8

Many products change their label and tout that they are now "new & improved", but haven't really made adjustments that are noticeable. I feel that this can often describe people. We talk about how we aren't the same person we used to be, but the changes (even over great time) are negligible at best. If we are truly changing directions with our life choices there should be a corresponding change in what we produce. Our thought patterns, reactions, speech, and habits will slowly be transformed as well. These changes may not be immediately evident, but there should be a collective transformation that takes place as we look to improve our lives.

Story Time

"An authentic great Awakening is when people can't stop talking about 
what God is doing."

What Matters Most-Leonard Sweet

This is a reflection of genuine spiritual growth & what we call "fruit." It's a Christian concept that might be somewhat foreign in application to those outside the church. The farming metaphor isn't difficult to comprehend, but the personal application is unique. 

As we grow, we have to ask the question, "What are we producing?" This is a common question in business models, but when it is applied to the church & a Christian lifestyle it can be easily misconstrued. While numbers (# of people, $ of generosity, etc.) can be part of the positive measurement, it is incomplete to stop at this step. If our lives are dedicated to expanding God's Kingdom efforts in and through us, we should see markers of our efforts in the lives that we impact. While we may not be able to quantitatively measure that progress, it should be qualitatively reflected in our conversations. 

Too often we choose to be consumed with talking about the mundane, complaining about what we don't like, or gossiping about other people's lives. There are two possible explanations for falling into this pattern: we don't recognize the things that God is doing in us or nothing God-driven is taking place. The stories we tell will reveal God's depth of involvement in our story. As the Church we should be committed to weaving the tales of God's supernatural work in us & working diligently to see that theme continued in those around us.

That is how growth (fruit) will be measured--in tales of life transformation and God's Spirit at work.

What Are You Growing?

If you have an orange tree in your backyard eventually you will probably see oranges grow. You can choose to paint the oranges a different color and you can even tie different fruit onto the branches to make it look like other fruit grew there. None of that changes what that tree is-it is still an orange tree.

We fall victim to the same thing in the church. We focus so intently on changing the outward appearance of things that we have forgotten the most important detail of changing our root structure. It is easy to put on a shirt with your church name on it and walk the halls on Sunday declaring how awesome God is. It is simple to pray out loud for the right things in a group of Christians. It is not a difficult thing to sing loudly when the worship music starts up and even lift a hand or two when we get to the chorus of the song. Without a change of heart (our root structure) you are still what you were before you knew Christ. Your true fruit (not just what others see inside church walls) is who you are.

I am thankful for the power of the Holy Spirit to change my roots. My daily prayer is that I would not be the same man tomorrow that I am today.