When Fruit Is Ignored

IWM Devotional: When Fruit Is Ignored

Scripture: Matthew 7:16–17 – “You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.” (ESV)

 

Word for Today

Throughout His teaching, Jesus consistently pointed to fruit as the evidence of a genuine life with God. In the Sermon on the Mount, He reminds His listeners that what truly reveals the condition of a heart is not appearance, activity, or even spiritual language—but fruit.

Fruit matters because it tells a story. It reveals what is taking root beneath the surface. While gifts and outward expressions can be seen and admired, fruit tells the deeper story. It exposes the ongoing reality of a person’s inner life.. That is why Jesus does not say we will recognize His followers by their abilities, but by what their lives produce over time.

When fruit is ignored, faith can slowly become disconnected from transformation. We may continue to speak the right words, serve in visible ways, and even experience moments of spiritual power, yet resist the Spirit’s work of shaping our character. Over time, this creates a gap between what we profess and how we live.

Jesus' warning is not meant to condemn, but to invite honest reflection. A healthy tree bears good fruit naturally. In the same way, a heart that is continually surrendered to God will reflect His character—not perfectly, but progressively. Where fruit is lacking, the solution is not striving harder, but returning to the source of life.

Ignoring fruit often reveals misplaced focus. We may prioritize results over relationship, impact over integrity, or visibility over obedience. But Jesus gently calls us back to examine what our lives are producing in the everyday moments where faith is truly lived out.

Heart-level righteousness keeps fruit at the center. It asks not only, What am I doing for God? but also, What is God growing in me? This is where authentic faith is revealed—not in flawless performance, but in a life increasingly shaped by Christ. May this reflection be something you take to heart. 

 

 

 Personal Reflection

• What kind of fruit is most evident in my life right now?

• Are there areas where my outward faith appears strong, but my inner character needs attention?

•  What might God be inviting me to surrender so that healthier fruit can grow?

God is not looking for impressive trees, but healthy ones—rooted in Him and growing in His time.
 

 

Prayer 

Father, search my heart and show me what is growing within me. Where fruit is lacking, draw me back to You as my source of life. Help me surrender areas of resistance so that my life produces fruit that reflects Your character. Shape me, grow me, and make my faith authentic and alive. Amen