Are we fruitful? Are we bearing the fruit of the Spirit? In Leviticus 19:23-25 the Lord told Moses how the fruit tree was to be tended. And in Luke 13:6-9 we find Jesus parable of the fig tree which bore no fruit but the keeper of the vineyard begged that he might tend it a little longer and the owner granted the keepers request. Then we have the parable of the landowner who planted a vineyard set it up with all that was needed and leased it to the vinedressers to care for and to bring good fruit from the vineyard. Then the vinedressers decided they wanted the profits for themselves and refused to give the owner the profits and the glory due Him.
Are we tending God’s sheep only for our own profit? Are we believing those who flatter and find what they think we want to stay in power to keep their riches? God says, “you will know them by their fruit.” We who know God’s word have greater responsibility to walk in it and lead by walking in it. Jesus drew on the Old Testament in saying, “it is written.” Leviticus 19:23-37 and the whole of Leviticus speaks to our behavior today. Jesus unpacked the commandments in the Sermon on the Mount. Will we bear fruit worthy of the Spirit?
Matthew 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much as a son of hell as yourselves.
Will we hear, “Come?”
Matthew 25:34-40 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. ‘Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and cloth You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them; ‘Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren you did it to Me.’
