Hosanna Restoration Church

Have you ever noticed that it we have a tendency to spend more time inspecting other peoples fruit that we do our own. This is true not just in the realm of Christianity but everywhere. People are either idolizing someone who has what they want, or looking for something bad in someone so they can feel better. For some reason criticizing others seems to makes us feel better. Or at least we think it does. Just watch the news, it must be the bad news that sells, because it seems to be what people most want to report. Or look at the magazines right next to the check out, they are full of headlines(more like gossip), and seldom could any of it be considered good news.

It is sad that this is the sort of thing that attracts the most people outside of the church, but it is really sad when the church operates the same way. Even though the Bible is clear that we are to work out our salvation, we prefer to check the fruit of others. I have even heard people say that it makes them feel better when they see someone have problems, especially when it is someone that they consider to be a more mature Christian. We are never told to rejoice in others problems or failures, only to rejoice when they rejoice and weep when they weep.

Each of us should be focused on our own fruit. We should all desire that we be filled with and displaying the fruits of righteousness. Fault finding, gossip, enjoying the failure of others, and etc., are not found on the list.

Notice what the Word of God says in verse 9. I pray that your love may abound still more in knowledge and discernment. As we understand the will of God more, our love will grow. If our love grows cold, we have ceased to discern the will of God. He goes on to say that we should approve things that are excellent. Don’t think that He means we are to be out just looking to see who else is being good or bad. Our lives should prove what is excellent. Our lives should prove that God has filled us and changed us. We should not blend in very well in things that are not excellent.

We are to be in the world, just not of the world. We should not be able to just blend in. We should love and bless and do and be all that the fruits of righteousness produce, but it should be obvious that we are not the same.

Most certainly, we should be sincere in our faith. We should be sincere in our love toward others. We should act toward others, the way we would have them to act toward us. Now don’t take the attitude that you want everyone to just leave you alone, so you will do the same. You know that is not true. We all want love and kindness expressed toward us. God wants us to express that toward everyone, everywhere. This the kind of fruit that was given us by Christ Jesus, and it is the kind of fruit that brings glory to God. Does it bring glory to God? This is the standard by which we should judge our own fruit.