As I was spending time in my devotional this morning, this thought came to mind: is there a difference between good fruit and good works? I had just assumed they were pretty synonymous terms, maybe even interchangeable. But then God began to take me on a journey of discovery which revealed there actually is a difference between the two concepts.
Good Fruit
The fruit is the tangible evidence of the work God has been doing inside of us. There is a very important process that takes place during this season that causes the fruit to bud and mature. And it takes time. Pruning takes place in this season. It is an uncomfortable process but necessary nonetheless. There must be a cutting away of things unprofitable and unhealthy that would prevent our fruit from being produced in this season. We must allow God to expose, identify, and root out limiting beliefs and false narratives that have been holding us back and keeping us from producing fruit. Jesus said in John 15:2 “every branch that bears fruit He (God) prunes, that it may bear more fruit”.
Correction is a necessary and important part of the pruning process. Given our childhood experiences, when we think of correction, we may tend to envision being disciplined harshly with words or physicality. We may have been berated and felt devalued, guilt, shame, and even condemnation. But God is a loving Father, and when He corrects, it comes from a place of pure, holy and undefiled love that is gentle but firm, and is intended to bring out the highest version of the person He foreknew us to be (Jeremiah 1:5). We see in Hebrews 12:11 that “no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it”. Though we may experience discomfort during the pruning season, we must allow the process to take place.
Another concept that God showed me was the fact that not everyone will partake of the fruit He produces through us. Sadly, they will not receive the blessing that was connected with it. Some will simply look at our fruit and walk away, never knowing its value. Others may look at our fruit, admire it and may even be curious about the benefits it could provide, but they will still walk away and never receive the blessing that God intended for them. And there will be others that will come and partake of our fruit and receive the rich blessing(s) attached to it.
From the very beginning of creation, God ordained fruitfulness. Trees, vegetation and animals were created to be fruitful (Genesis 1:11-12, 20-25). Mankind was also created to be fruitful (v. 28). The fruit God produces through us carries within it seed full of potential that will reproduce after its own kind. For example, on a spiritual level, the fruit of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22). When we allow God to mature His spiritual fruit within us, so that it produces tangible fruit outwardly, others are able to receive the blessing of it. Each fruit is a gift from God not only for the bearer, but also for the partaker of the fruit.
Good Works
While there are internal works, i.e. the processes God uses to produce internal (and spiritual) good fruit, there are also external works that are created to impact others. Our fruit is directly connected to our works. Without the good fruit being produced in our hearts, it will be difficult to do the good works that are a byproduct of them (Luke 7:43-45).
The external works are the actions we take to accomplish the will of God for our lives and for the lives of others. Ephesians 2:10 says “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”. Isn’t it interesting to know God has already prepared the good works we will do?
The works that Jesus did as recorded in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John give us a clear picture of the kinds of works we were created and called to do in His name. We are Christ’s ambassadors in the earth (2 Corinthians 5:20), so we have been commissioned to go into all the world and be His hands and feet in the earth. When we preach the gospel, heal the sick, raise the dead, show compassion, feed the poor, pray for/with others, show kindness, and allow the Holy Spirit to empower us to practice the agape love exemplified in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, we are doing the good works that we were created to do.
It’s important to note that sometimes our works can be overt or on a larger scale, and sometimes our works will be subtle or even private. However God uses us, we must remember it is all for His glory. When we are doing the works, we must be careful to do them from the right heart posture. We should not do works for the recognition and praise of people, but to please God. Having the right heart posture can best be achieved if we spend time alone with God and allow Him to do the necessary work internally. The more we spend time with Him, the pruning process takes place, intimacy is deepened, and our hearts and will become aligned with His. From this special place, fruit is produced and we receive God’s instruction on what we should do next – our works.
Special prayer: Heavenly Father, during this difficult season we’re facing as COVID-19 spreads across the world, I thank You that You are our protection and shield. I thank You that no weapon formed against us will prosper. That is Your promise to us God and we stand on Your word. In the midst of this challenge, I thank You for bringing families together. Thank You for bringing communities together. Thank You for uniting our hearts in love as we come together to support and encourage each other. Let us draw closer to You like never before. Give us Your wisdom, strength, and peace as we put our faith and trust in You. Father, for those that are on the front lines, give them divine protection and a special anointing to do what only You can equip them to do. I pray for everyone who is afflicted, has lost someone, or has been impacted in any way that You would comfort them and give them hope. You are Jehovah-Jireh, the God Who Provides, so I thank You for meeting every need in miraculous ways. Let the good fruit You produce in our hearts become tangible blessings as we walk in the good works You’ve prepared for us, in Jesus’ name. Amen
