Day 30 — Known by Its Fruit

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. Indeed, figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor grapes from brambles. The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”

— Luke 6:43–45 (BSB)

If you saw a tree with apples hanging from its branches, what kind of tree would you say it was? An apple tree, of course! You don’t need to see a label. You can tell by the fruit.

Jesus said people are like that. “Each tree is known by its own fruit.” You can’t grow figs on a thornbush or grapes on a bramble. What grows on the outside shows what’s really going on inside.

That’s what this whole book has been about. For thirty days, we’ve looked at the fruit God wants to grow in you: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and humility. We’ve looked at the words that come out of your mouth, and the habits of your heart. We’ve talked about being wise, pure and honest.

But Jesus points us back to where it all starts: “The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart.” Fruit shows what kind of tree you are. Words show what’s in your heart. If you want to change the fruit, you have to change the tree.

And only God can do that. You can’t glue apples onto a thornbush and make it an apple tree! Trying harder to look good on the outside doesn’t change what you are on the inside. But God can make you new. When you trust Jesus, He gives you a new heart and puts His Spirit in you. He changes the tree, and then the fruit starts to grow.

That’s why we started with Day 1: “I am the vine and you are the branches.” Everything comes back to staying connected to Jesus. As His life flows into you, your heart fills with good treasure, and good fruit grows.

It won’t all happen at once. Some fruit will grow faster than others. You’ll have good seasons and hard seasons. But if you keep your roots in Jesus, people will start to see His fruit in you.

Think about it: Look back over this book. What’s one fruit you’ve seen God growing in you? What’s one you’re still asking Him for?

Try this: Go back to the vine you drew on Day 1. Add any new fruit you’ve seen growing, and write a thank-you note to God next to it.

Dear Jesus, thank You for these 30 days of learning about the fruit You want to grow in me. I know I can’t make good fruit on my own. Please keep changing my heart and filling it with good treasure. Help me stay connected to You, the Vine, so that people will know me by Your fruit. In Your name, Amen.