Where's the Fruit?

Good message at church yesterday....one of the questions our pastor asked was what are signs of spiritual maturity? What does that look like? And he suggested that when you see people following the two commandments that Jesus said were the most important (Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul, and love your neighbor as you love yourself), that can be a good indicator. I'm gonna' take it a step further. With maturity comes fruit. I'm no gardener, but a tree won't produce fruit until it's mature, right?

I always used to think that fruit would be like a list of names, people who I've witnessed to, and who have accepted Christ. And, yes, I guess that would be an example of fruit, but it says in Galatians that there's fruit of the Spirit....love, peace, joy, patience, gentleness, kindness, self-control, etc.....these qualities come from the Spirit, I can't manufacture them on my own. And they just come out of me, pop up on my branches when I'm healthy and growing in my faith. When I'm letting Him transform me into the person He has planned for me to be. And, when those yummy fruits are oozing out of me, I am a reflection of what God has to offer.

Or, for another fruity metaphor, I've also heard it said that we all produce something, some kind of fruit. And what kind is it? Either way, when wondering about my own spiritual maturity, or another's, I think we gotta' look at the fruit.


And, speaking of fruit, Lily left for school today a little unhappy for the first time this year. My kids are my fruit, too, yes? Her teacher just called and wondered what the crying was all about, because Lily won't tell her. So, some of my fruit is a little sad this morning.