Scripture
You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? -Matthew 17:16
If someone had to give their honest opinion about you as a Christian, what would they say? What do you display to the world at large? Does the fruit you produce come from a good tree or a bad tree? Recently, my 8th graders were given the task to write letters to the current 7th graders about what they should expect when they get to 8th grade. As I read through every letter, I realize that though the students wrote about the levels of responsibility and accountability the grade level brings, they spoke about each teacher they interacted with daily. The consistency in their description of my team was astounding. There are over one hundred students in the 8th grade, and for each teacher, their assessments of each teacher was the same, no matter the child.
Though I was entertained by reading my students' thoughts about the grade level and their teachers, this begs a question: What would the people you interact with daily say about you as a Christian? What would they say about the fruit you produce based on how you act? Would people even realize that you're a believer in Jesus Christ? Do you display His love and compassion to them? The truth is, who we truly are in the Lord is on display wherever we go. Will people want to know our God as a result of their interactions with us?
The honesty in those children was a sweet reminder that I am always on assignment from the Father. As a Christian, my goal should always be to display the nature of the one I'm in a relationship with. They should feel the love of God through my speech and actions. Beloved, let's be encouraged to do a little self-evaluation of the fruit we're producing.
Prayer
Father, we desire to display the fruit of your Holy Spirit everywhere we go and with everyone we encounter. Help us be reminded that we are ambassadors of Christ and that we should be drawing people. We pray that the Holy Spirit empowers us to represent Christ effectively to world. Amen
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