“He dug it all around, removed its stones, And planted it with the choicest vine. And He built a tower in the middle of it And also hewed out a wine vat in it; Then He expected it to produce good grapes, But it produced only worthless ones.”
Isaiah 5:2
Imagine producing fruit only to find out that it counts for nothing?
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Matthew 7:22-23
How exactly do we forfeit/sour the things we do for the Lord? In Matthew 6, Jesus details the manner in which we practice giving (Matthew 6:1-4), praying (Matthew 6:5-16), and fasting (Matthew 6:16-18) that is acceptable to Him.
This blueberry plant yielded fruit in June. It is the expected season. However, Jesus expects fruit all the time since it is His Holy Spirit in the person that bears the fruit (Philippians 1:6). He expects it all the more from people who claim to know Him.
“Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.”
Mark 11:13-14
Jesus’ divinity allows Him to see past the present into the future and this is why He cursed the tree without fruit. He knew they were never going to bear fruit! Jesus sees the things we do for Him. It is inevitable that some will question our motives, but with Him, there is no confusion when it comes to what is and what is not acceptable.
This Boysenberry plant bears fruit in July. Different plants produce fruit in different seasons. In the physical, we all find joy and fulfillment when the fruit we harvest is good and sweet to the taste. It is just as true in the spiritual. When Jesus expects fruit from us, He expects it to match our profession of faith in Him. Interestingly, the world also expects us to be true to what we profess. Of course, the enemy and his minions always have something bad to say about us. Not only this, he is busy distracting the whole world with fruit pleasing to the eyes, but are rotten and harmful.
What kind of fruit are you producing? Does it glorify yourself or does it glorify God?
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Matthew 7:19