The Shadow of Your Wings

“You will know them by their fruit.” Mt 7:16-20

We quote this verse almost as frequently as John 3:16. And misquote or misrepresent it nearly as often. For whatever reasons we tend to think this verse says, “Judge them by their fruit.” I’ve heard preachers and lay people refer to themselves as “fruit inspectors” more times than I can count. Inspectors, by training and job description, do indeed “judge” the fruit. Each crate is examined, samplings tested for ripeness, damage incurred during transit, insect “burns,” etc. and then the load is classified or valued accordingly. Judged.

For years I labored under this concept, that our good works and deeds were the fruit by which we were known, and judged. I struggled, strained, worked, fretted and always came away feeling frustrated and empty. I couldn’t do enough, or do well enough to meet my own expectations of productivity, much less others or, I feared, God’s.

Finally, late one night, I came before the Lord and confessed my inadequacies and inability. As I stood in the silence, my head bowed, fully expecting the ax to fall (Mt 3:10) and believing that I deserved such a fate I heard that still, small Voice ask, “What fruit do you think I am seeking from you?” “Oh, Lord,” I whimpered, “You know. That I should pray more, give more, DO more for You.” For a moment the only sound was that of the night … I waited, not in fear or even expectation; my soul as quiet and still as the darkness that surrounded me. Then He spoke gently to my heavy heart, “Child, the fruit I seek is that of the Spirit ~ that you bear My love, peace, patience, goodness …”

I was led to understand that without the ripening of His fruit in my life there could be no meaningful or lasting ministry, that my good works would be only that - MY good works. But that by the increase of the Holy Spirit, of His fruitfulness upon and within me, the good works would begin to fall as surely as apples in autumn, a natural by-product of Spirit’s presence.

I’d like to share the results (my own paraphrase) of a word study I did during this time on the verses in Galatians: