Day 8 - The Fruit Bearer

Fruit-bearing trees are often used in Scripture to represent the race of mankind; you and me. Jesus compares wicked people to diseased trees which bear evil fruit and the righteous among us to good trees which bear good fruit (see Matthew 7:15, 20). He also emphasises that being a good tree which bears evil fruit, or being a corrupt tree which bears good fruit is impossible. The nature of the fruit we bear determines the kind of tree we are; it is very advisable therefore that we professing Christians constantly check the fruit we are bearing.

To be Christ's, or to be a Christian, we must have the Spirit of Christ; for the Scriptures say that

"… if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." (Romans 8:9).

As certainly as night follows day, so those who have the Spirit of Christ display the fruit of the Spirit. Not to bear the fruit of the Spirit is proof enough that you do not have the Spirit within you. So it is well worth making a close examination of the fruit you are bearing: it will show you whether you have the Spirit of Christ or not, whether or not you are his, whether or not you are, indeed, a Christian.

But watch out! It is easy to make a superficial examination, and allow ourselves to be deceived. We can make excuses for ourselves because of our weaknesses, and deceive ourselves. But a close and thorough examination will disclose to us the real nature of the spirit inside us.

For example, If we have the Spirit of Christ, we will be bearing the fruit of gentleness. "Well," you may say, "I am rough, sometimes harsh and a little hasty sometimes by nature. That's just the way I am."

In that case you need to be made anew. When God finds someone who can be rough, harsh, if not sometimes severe, he will make him mild, gentle and peaceful, if the man will surrender to the operation of the Holy Spirit.

We are used to the idea of going to a hospital and having abscesses and tumours removed from our bodies by surgery. God, by a blessed, wonderful, and successful operation of the Holy Spirit, will take that roughness out of your nature, and instil mildness, tenderness, softness, and gentleness instead.

The harshness that you supposed was just part of your nature is a corruption that God, in his gracious plan of recovery and salvation, is pleased to remove. If you will allow the Holy Spirit to do a work in you which pleases God, he will make you gentle.

Gentleness is sweetness of disposition, mildness of temper, softness of manner, kindness and tenderness. Those who are gentle act and speak without so much as a trace of animosity. They are not morose, sour, miserable and uneven, but are of a predictable softness, mild, and even. Good manners, by the way, are intimately connected with gentleness, and good manners are honourable to Christianity.

"Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." (Phil 4:5).

Are you as gentle to your children as you should be, all the time? Husband, are you as kind and gentle towards your wife as you should be? Wife, are you as gentle towards your husband as the Lord would like? Or do either of you get impatient feelings and act in a hasty and abrupt way towards them? If you run into something provoking from your wife or the children or your husband, do you easily manage to keep as mild and sweet as you know you should?

There are many professing saints today who are not nearly as gentle as they should be, scarring the public image of Christ when they are so. Why go along with any coldness and snappishness in your life? Be gentle towards everyone.