05/20/2026
This morning I reached out to a friend of mine asking for podcast recommendations. This is not an unusual conversation between us. We’re separated by distance at this phase in our lives, but have remained friends for about 30 years. While we were talking, the conversation shifted from podcasts to challenging our beliefs as Christians (in a healthy way) and the signs of fruit or lack thereof. My mind continued to spin from this thought. We should bear fruit as Christians. This is clear in scripture – there is no argument. How can I bear fruit? What do I need? Can I examine my own life for fruit?
It’s ironic because I had already snapped this picture as I was tending to ducklings this morning behind the barn. I was focused on the sun and how beautiful the morning was, but then…. I noticed my empty garden beds and couldn’t help but laugh --- I got the beds put together but never got the garden planted. If that isn’t the story of my life, I don’t know what is. I can tell you, there will not be any fruit from those garden beds. There is no seed. There are no roots. See first, you must have a seed planted in your life. Titus 2:11 says “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” All. Every single one of us. We’ve all had a seed planted. Then, you need something to allow that seed to establish roots. That “something” is nourishment – for a fruit bearing plant, that looks like water, soil, and wind. For a Christian, that looks like studying, praying, and obedience to the Holy Spirit. Still at this point, there is no fruit. When the roots take hold and the base is strong in foundation, then, only then does the fruit come. Go read Galatians 5:22-23. Look at the fruit mentioned there. Do you have it? I’m asking myself the same question.
