Fruit as a sign

Let us spend today looking at references to "fruit" in other parts of the Bible.  In Matthew, the concept of people producing fruit comes up three times that I found.  Twice, it is in reference to the pharisees.  Both John the Baptist (Matt 3:10) and Jesus (Matt 12:33) talk about how a bad tree produces bad fruit and a good tree produces good fruit.  Again I am left with the image that fruit is not something we need to try to produce, but it is something we will naturally produce if we are healthy inside.  Jesus reiterates this in his sermon on the mount (Matt 7:20) when he says we can tell what type of people false prophets are by their fruit.  He goes on to say that those who produce bad fruit will be chopped off and thrown into the fire.

So if producing fruit comes from our inner being, then to produce good fruit or the fruit of Holy Spirit,
we need to work not on the fruit but on our inner being. In John 15, Jesus tells us that he is the vine and we are branches.

"Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. "
John 15:5-8

Three things strike me here:

1.  We produce good fruit by remaining in Christ.  This goes right along with what we have been learning about the fruit of Holy Spirit.  It is God's fruit lived out in our lives.  Let our thoughts remain in Christ throughout the day.  Let our words reflect His.  Let our deeds model His.  Let our security be tied to His love.  Let our comfort and joy and rest be found in Him.

2.  If we remain in Christ we can ask for anything and it will be granted.  By remaining in Christ, by tying our thoughts to Him and learning our words from Him we can ask for the right things.  And we already know some of the right things to ask for: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  If we are living in Christ we can ask and God will fill us.

3.  Producing good fruit can help others and make us feel good, but ultimately it brings great glory to God the Father!  Philippians 1:11 says the same thing: "May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God."  Isn't that awesome.  By letting God work his fruit in our lives we can be used to glorify Him.