What Does Your Fruit Look Like?
Devotion provided by Trinity United Church of Christ.
Luke 3:7-18 (NIV)
There is nothing better than a great tasting golden delicious apple, a juicy orange, or a slice of sweet watermelon! Just seeing fruit that looks good can be mouthwatering. Before purchasing fruit, however, most of us will first take a close look at it to ensure that it is not rotten or spoiled. You can often recognize a spoiled piece of fruit by how it looks on the outside; however, the spoiling process for some fruit can begin on the inside. Mold and bacteria can build up on the inside of the fruit that is not apparent to the naked eye. If that happens, you have no idea whether or not it is rotten until it is cut open. How disappointing to find out that what looked good on the outside is not good on the inside!
In Luke 3:7-18, as John baptized and preached repentance, he quickly recognized that the type of “fruit” that the crowd was attempting to bring was rotten from the inside out. He quickly cut to the chase and told them to bring “fruit worthy of repentance.” Eager for the appearing of the Messiah, they asked John what was needed. They learned that producing good fruit would cost them something. In other words, true repentance does not mean “looking” right, but acting right and doing right. You can’t appear to be good on the outside but rotten on the inside and expect God to be pleased. If John could see rotten fruit in his crowd, surely Jesus can see it in us.
Advent is about expectation; it is also about preparation. Prepare your hearts, prepare your ways, and even prepare your thoughts for the coming of JESUS. This may mean that you need to go back and right a wrong that you committed just this week. Don’t let spiritual mold and bacteria accumulate so that it continuously produces rotten fruit in your life. Repent and bring forth fruit worthy of repentance, as you anticipate and prepare for the Savior.
What does your fruit look like?
Prayer: Forgiving God, help me not to ignore areas of my life that need transformation. Comfort and convict me; Rescue and restore me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Thought for the Day: Today, I will be careful to examine my words, my thoughts, and my actions.