Fruity Wishes

We passed a few patches of viburnum on our hike up South Moat Mountain last week. We didn’t snack on the bright red fruits, preferring the known apples we carried with us to the unknown effects of unidentified berries growing in the woods.

Virbunum provides food for many woodland critters. Birds enjoy the ripe berries, and caterpillars munch on the leaves.

But those same berries may be edible or may be mildly toxic to people, depending on the species of viburnum.

While taste testing wasn’t even remotely on my mind, the berries got me thinking.

Followers of Jesus should be easily identified by their fruit.

A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

Matthew 7:18-20 NLT

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

John 15:4

Trouble comes when we start comparing our fruit to what’s growing on other “trees”!

If I’m an apple tree wishing I could be an orange tree, discontent and angst start rotting my roots. Instead of being who God created me to be, I spend energy striving to be what I can never become.

But there are times when all someone wants is a tart crunchy apple, and an orange just isn’t going to do!

Who is God calling you to be, and what fruit has he given you to bless others with? Don’t despise his plan for your life, but embrace it instead.

Trust your Master Gardener, and submit to his careful hand.

I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.

When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

John 15:1-2, 8

You have no idea the impact your obedience has on those around you. Today may be the day you have exactly what they need!