Jesus tells us in Luke, “for every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.” Though this statement is fairly obvious, don’t pass over it too quickly.

We can all appreciate the straight forwardness of what Jesus is saying: no one who is hungry for figs or grapes goes to a thorn bush to get them. Quite obviously, he goes to a fig tree or a grape vine.

Think about the fruit you are giving others. Think about the fruit you are giving Jesus. One of the more obvious things about fruit is that the tree which produces it does not partake of it, and so we should desire to be producing for others good fruit. The book, Song of Solomon offers us a good picture of this. The bride is pictured as a garden and she prepares her fruits and spices for her beloved:

"A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed...Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits" [Song 4:12; 16]

Notice how the bride offers up herself to her groom, saying “let my beloved come into his garden.” And the groom responds,

"I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk" [Song 5:1]

And then once more the bride speaks,

"Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved." [Song 5:1]

This is how we should approach our lives. We want them to be fruitful gardens, filled with wonderful spices and fruits for our Lord, and in the midst of it all a fountain filled with Living Water for our Beloved Christ to enjoy. But not only him, for notice that the bride also invites her friends. Our fruit is for others as well, and so we should desire to produce pure and good fruit for Jesus and for those around us.

When we come into The LORD’s presence in sincerity and humbleness, seeking to submit our members for righteousness and to show mercy/love to others, we will be “like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” [Isa 58:1-14] The LORD is the one who waters our soul and we should be always looking to Him for watering, coming into His presence, abiding in Him. It is from the richness of The Lord’s presence that we are satisfied and receive water, life, and light. “They shall be abundantly satisfied with the richness of Thy house; and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures. For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.” [Psa 36:8-9]

Our abiding in Jesus’ presence will produce fruit. If we are abiding in Him, we will be receiving good nutrients. If we do not abide in Jesus we produce nothing. For “as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” [Jn 15:4-5]

The spices, on the other hand, represent knowledge of Christ. See what Paul says,

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the fragrance of his knowledge by us in every place."

The knowledge of Jesus Christ is fragrant. It should follow us around and emit from us like a pleasant aroma. A sweet and fragrant odor. A wonderful spice for those around us.

CONCLUSION

Desire to be a garden for The Lord and for The Brethren. Seek to conform your life to His holiness, removing sin; asking, like the bride, for the “north and south wind:” ask for Jesus to purify you so that you may produce better fruit for those around you.