Day 99
Deuteronomy 33:1‐29; Luke 13:1‐21; Psalm 78:65‐72; Proverbs 12:25
Fruitful in Kind and in Character
When we moved into our first house, I discovered a “mysterious” citrus tree in the backyard. I say “mysterious” because I could not tell if it was an orange, grapefruit, tangerine, lime, or lemon tree by simply looking at the tree and its leaves. I had to wait for it to bear fruit in due season to discover that our “mysterious” citrus tree was a tangerine tree!
Jesus’ parable of the barren fig tree reminds us of our Lord’s expectation for us to bear fruit for the kingdom in due season. In Jesus’ sermon on the plain earlier in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that like our “mysterious” citrus tree, believers are also known by the fruit they bear: “No good tree bears bad fruit nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush” (Luke 6:43-44, NRSV).
So what is the good fruit that the Lord expects His followers to bear? Bishop John W. Howe has said the fruit sought by the Lord is “in kind” and “in character.” We bear “in kind” fruit when we obey Jesus’ Great Commission and seek to make disciples and followers of the Lord. We bear fruit “in character” when we exhibit the fruit of the Spirit—“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23b, NRSV)—in our relationships.
How are you fruitful “in kind” and “in character” for the Lord?
The Rev. Anthony P. Clark