Producing Fruit?

James 2:14 tells us that claiming to have faith, but having no evidence of that faith in your life is useless. If you have true faith you will produce fruit.

John 15 tells us that if we are connected with Jesus in a real and personal relationship, we will produce fruit like the branches of a vine produce grapes when they are connected to the vine. A branch not producing fruit is cut off and thrown into the fire.

In Luke 8 we see a story about a farmer who throws seed onto 4 different types of soil. The seed on the path, among the thorns, and on the rocks all eventually died. Only the seed on the good soil was able to grow to maturity and produce fruit.

There are quite a few passages in the New Testament that use the metaphor of producing fruit in your life to describe what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus. Unfortunately, many of us use the terminology without actually doing it in our own lives or even understanding what it means.

Based on what I read in the gospels, I come to only one conclusion. To produce fruit in your life means that you are making new disciples and training them to make even newer disciples. Every command Jesus gives comes back to the two greatest commandments - glorifying God and loving people. Loving people means leading them to the ONLY gift that really matters, the saving grace of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 13 ends by telling us that we can do all the good stuff we want, but if it doesn't have love it is worthless.

You really must examine the gospels for yourself to find this truth. My examination has led me to this conclusion:

A true disciple of Jesus is producing fruit. Producing fruit means you are making new disciples and training them to make even newer disciples. If you are not producing fruit, you are not a disciple of Jesus. If you are not a disciple of Jesus you will not be saved from punishment and death.

My question for you is a matter of life and death: ARE YOU PRODUCING FRUIT IN YOUR LIFE? Are you leading people to Jesus? Are you making new disciples? Are you preparing them to make even newer disciples?

My fear is that many people packing in to churches each Sunday feel pretty safe and confident, yet there is ZERO evidence of any fruit they are actually producing in their lives. The message of the gospels is clear, only those producing fruit will be saved. Jesus also warns that only a few will find this truth and live it out. Why? Because it is hard.

Please examine your life. If you are not producing fruit it is time for you to start focusing on what is really important. Making disciples is central to what Jesus has commanded of us.