Fruit – Effort or No Effort? – Abide in the Vine

Let’s talk, former procrastinators, about the idea that Christians don’t have to exert effort to bear fruit.  Some say a tree doesn’t strain to pop out an apple – that it just comes naturally, without effort, and we should be the same.

It is “natural” because that’s how God designed it.  However, not all apple trees produce apples;  some are barren.  Maybe the soil lacks nutrients, maybe it’s the wrong climate, maybe something in the tree causes it to resist reproduction.

There is effort involved even for a tree.  A fruit-bearing tree is made up of cells that each do the job God designed.  Those in the roots reach for water and nutrients from the soil.  Phloem cells transport those to the rest of the tree. Leaves produce energy, etc.

It is only to the untrained eye that fruit seems to effortlessly spring from a tree’s branches.

We former procrastinators can testify to the attention and energy required to become diligent.  Others can speak to the struggles overcoming temptation, renewing their minds, forming new habits. Character fruit.  (Galatians 5:22-23)

Likewise, to the untrained eye, some people seem to effortlessly connect with others.  Others seek their counsel.  They have spiritual generations that come after them.  But this is not effortless.  It is the result of obedience.  Influence fruit. (John 15:8, 16-17)  They have an impact in the lives of others. It doesn’t feel natural for all those folks to engage others in conversation, but they do.  It doesn’t feel natural to invite others to their home, but they do.  It doesn’t feel natural to devote time to someone else, but they do. The more they do it, the more “natural” it becomes.

While the Holy Spirit is transforming believers on the inside as they obey, He is also influencing the lives of others through them.  Character fruit within and influence fruit without.  The believer yields to the Spirit’s prompting and God produces fruit.   He does the heart work in everybody involved.  We’re privileged that He chooses to work in and through us.

Consider, too, the wording of instructions to us in the New Testament.  Especially note verbs that clearly say we have a responsibility to act in obedience.  Let, do not let, seek, follow, ask, make every effort, etc.  It’s our responsibility to yield to the Holy Spirit.  Obedience takes effort.  God produces the fruit.

Thinking about the word “responsibility,” I see “respond ability.”  God enables us to obey.  He made us to bear fruit.  We fulfill that purpose when we yield to His reproducing work.

God is so gracious He often bears fruit through us in ways we didn’t intend, ways we don’t understand, plan, or pray for.  That is His grace and generosity – part of the abundance and joy we have as we yield our efforts to the Spirit.

What Spirit-directed obedience requires your effort?