We are responsible for the fruit we bear.

In Mark 11, Jesus cursed a fig tree after he approached it in hunger only to discover that it was fruitless. The fully bloomed leaves were usually a sign that fruit was abounding. However, this particular tree was claiming to have fruit that it had never produced.

We all bear fruit. Hopefully, our lives show things like love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

But, without God’s Spirit helping us, it’s harder to be good. Even with God, we are mostly just works in progress.

That’s why Jesus said, “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.” John 14:16

It’s often more natural for our lives to show things like prejudice, arrogance, anger, sulky-sadness, worry, meanness, impatience, rudeness, intolerance, cheating, lying, harshness, and hot-headedness.

If you’re a Christian, your nature has changed. Some things about you are immediately different. Other unfortunate behaviors will be tamed by God’s Spirit.

Holy Spirit will convict you, meaning He will cause you to see your error. It’s your responsibility to accept His help in these highlighted areas and give attention to the behaviors that He has convicted.

“When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment” John 16:8

This is His way of working good fruit in you. Still, you have to take ownership and responsibility of your own fruit.

“For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”

Ephesians 5:5

Dismissive excuses aren’t ok.

You can’t write off your bad actions to things like:

God loves me just the way I am.

In Actuality, God’s love is working to perfect you…if you’ll just stop making excuses.

Everything about a fruit tree is driven by its purpose to bear fruit.

1. It grows, reaching for the sun, so it can bear fruit.

2. It eats, taking in necessary nutrients, so it can bear fruit.

3. It drinks, absorbing the rainwater, so it can bear fruit.

The fruit-tree is a living organism with one incessant drive. It will do all that it has to do in efforts to bear fruit.

Likewise, bearing good spiritual fruit is the responsibility of a believer.

Eph 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children

That is, unless you’re ok with being a jerk, grieving the spirit, and facing judgement.

Be fruitful. He will help you.