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Is There Fruit On Your Tree?
By Pastor Kirby Jones
When a child is born, one primary factor in determining his/her overall health is their rate of growth. During every visit to the pediatrician, an infant is weighed and measured to determine whether or not they are growing at a healthy, normal rate. Every doctor knows that one warning sign a child may have serious health problems is stunted growth. It is sad to see a 3 year old that is the size of a 12 month old. It doesn’t take a medical degree to discern that there is a problem somewhere. As sad as it is seeing a person that has not grown physically, it is equally as tragic when a child of God does not grow spiritually. Although, there are many things beyond our control when it comes to a child’s health, there’s no excuse for the stunted spiritual growth that plagues the body of Christ.
The Apostle Paul made it clear the goal of every Christian was to become more like Christ. Even as great a Saint as we esteem Paul to have been, by his own testimony, he never ceased to seek greater heights in his Christ-likeness. He said in Philippians 3:13-14: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” As Christians, our daily lives should be characterized by the same desire that Paul had. With every experience, decision and circumstance we too should press toward (pursue, follow after, chase) spiritually growth.
Although many in the body of Christ are seeking some miraculous single event to propel them to spiritual maturity, being sprinkled with some miracle grow formula is not God’s norm for us. True spiritual growth comes over time in a close walk with Christ. In the intimacy of a relationship with Him, he waters, fertilizes and prunes our lives through the experiences and lessons He gives us each day.
Just as there are some things we can do to aid in natural growth, there are also some very practical things we can do to help our spiritual growth. If you are serious about becoming more like Christ, here are 3 basic things I recommend:
1.Prayer – There is one thing every great man or woman of God share in common; an open line of communication with God. In prayer we can not only speak to God, but most importantly, He speaks to us.
2.The Word – The bible is our source for everything we need to know about growing spiritual. Within the pages of the word of God we can find the answer to every problem, and in the process, we learn to discern the Spirit of Christ from the spirit of the world.
3.Church Attendance – There is nothing like being in fellowship with a body of believers where the word is taught, and Jesus Christ is exalted and honored as Lord. You will become like those you associate with.
In Matthew 21 we are told of the account of Christ coming upon a fig tree with His disciples. The text tells us that Jesus was hungry, and when He saw the tree from a distance it appeared to have fruit. It had plenty of leaves, and as far we are told, there was no reason it should not have yielded plenty of delicious figs. But when Jesus got close to the tree, He found no fruit.
Does your life appear to be bearing fruit for Christ only from a distance? Would a close examination by the master reveal that there really is no fruit on your tree? Let’s all determine in our hearts today to do those things that will make us fruitful Christians for Christ’s sake and the sake of the world around us.
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