Video from Desiring God
9 Biblical Signs of a Christian Bearing Fruit
"Do you bear fruit? Perhaps you’ve never thought of yourself as bearing fruit. Biblical contemporaries grew their own foods, tended orchards, and depended on their crops for their livelihood. Thus, we have many biblical food illustrations. The fruit is the end product of the planting season. First comes the seed, which is placed strategically in the ground. The seeds of our fruit as a Christian are being planted throughout our lives. As the water of love, relationships, and experiences pours into us, the seed becomes active and begins to grow. When we accept Jesus into our lives, the seed sprouts and the Holy Spirit continues to nurture the seed of our fruit.In Galatians 5:22-23 Paul says, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Obviously, we don’t walk around sprouting fruit from our appendages. But the result of our fruit or actions should be as sweet to the recipient and as pleasing to God as if we gave away scrumptious, edible fruit. What the big deal is about bearing fruit as a Christian? Should it matter to us? It matters to God. He created us to be in relationship with Him and to be His hands and feet on earth. The fruit is a sign we are in a solid relationship with God and we have chosen to produce “fruit” that blesses the lives of others and points them to God. If you are not sure what bearing fruit means and what the signs of the fruit in your life are, let’s take a closer look.." from the article: 9 Biblical Signs of a Christian Bearing Fruit