But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Matthew 5:44 NIV
(https://matthew.bible/matthew-5-44)
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Matthew 7:19-23 NIV
(https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.7.19-23.NIV)
One of them [a Pharisee], an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:35-40 NIV
(https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.22.35-40.NIV)
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6 NIV (https://john.bible/john-14-6)
After a very trying weekend, during which I allowed my happiness, self-discipline, and grace to be challenged, and during which I was introduced to a passive cloud of resentment hanging over my life and the life of someone for whom I care, I found myself sitting quietly, evaluating it all and ultimately evaluating myself. And in that time of reflection I remembered the verses above and was reminded that God has expectations of us to be loving and kind to each other, despite the circumstances and despite our own pain, discomfort, hurts, self-justifications. And that loving kindness is part of what Jesus refers to as our “fruit”. Well, admittedly my fruit wasn’t very appealing this past weekend, due to a number of circumstances, and it’s something of which I’m not very proud.
So with that in mind I think it’s important for those reading (including myself) to just ponder for a moment – what type of fruit would you bear if you were a tree? Golden, shiny fruit, sweet from the joy you contribute to the lives of others, and that you receive from the relationships in your life? Or browning, bitter, sour fruit from past hurts & current resentments? And if that fruit were picked and placed into a pristine, ornately-decorated basket, do you think that would make it any more appetizing or desirable to someone looking for fruit to consume? How healthy is your fruit; and what type of seeds are being birthed from your fruit? What type of fruit will your branches bear? Will your “child” branches bear the same type of fruit as you; and more importantly, would you want them to?
It’s one thing to pursue God – His face, His hands, His presence, His instruction and knowledge – to “check the boxes”; but fulfillment of God’s laws and commands while ignoring His 2nd greatest commandment of love (and subsequently kindness and grace), while simultaneously leaning on expectations of His favor or His acceptance, is an exercise in self-deception. “Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”
So I present the question one last time, but in a more direct manner – again to you the reader, and to myself: what type of fruit are you choosing to bear?