Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. Matthew 3:8 KJV

REFLECT:
Fruits can be delicious items. They not only add value to our diet, but they also keep us healthy and free from diseases. For these reasons, we make it a point to stock up and eat them regularly.

Now, this is just about the physical and earthly fruits that we are talking about here. A class of dietary foods that can only impact our physical needs. How very vital they are for our life and well-being to enable us to function physically and cognitively on earth.

However, what would happen if we shifted gears and begin to consider the things that constitute our Spiritual health and well-being? Bearing in mind that the Spiritual impacts the physical a lot more than the other way around even when it comes to eating food. Here is a good example in Matthew 4:4 in Jesus’s response to the devil “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”(KJV).

Yes, we also have spiritual foods that are fruits that we need to partake of if we have to live healthy spiritual lives. Even more important is the fact that these spiritual fruits impact us here on earth as well as in eternity, meaning that they affect and impact us multi-dimensionally.

They affect and impact our health, safety, relationships, destiny, purpose, mental health, etc. Invariably, the fruits produced in the spirit have an all-around effect and impact on our body, soul, and spirit. They will in the long run determine where we will spend eternity- in Hell or Heaven.

So, what are these kinds of spiritual fruits? How can we begin to acquire them? And why would we need to have them?

A good place to start in our quest would be our Bible verse for today. Our Bible verse opens us up to the first point of reference to obtaining all the spiritual fruits we need to obtain and live a full and successful life God intended for us.

This first point of reference mentioned is the ability to produce in our lives the fruits of ‘repentance.’ When we successfully have these fruits of repentance in place it unlocks the door that brings us into fellowship with other fruits that the Kingdom of God offers.

Therefore, as we turn away from our sins, in repentance and showing our sincere remorse for our wrongdoings against God and confessing our sins we are fed with the choice fruits of God’s Righteousness, Mercy, and Grace. As we partake of these fruits by faith, we are enabled by the Holy Spirit to manifest a blessed and healthy spiritual life for all to see.

Moreover, we get to encourage and share these fruits with others in our lives; thereby producing a rippling effect that will transform our lives, society, and the world in which we live.

In addition, as was mentioned earlier, the fruits of repentance act as the precursor to many other fruits the Kingdom of God has for us, like the ones mentioned in Galatians 5: 22-23 (Please refer to your Bibles for more insight).

This invariably means that without the obtainment of the fruits of repentance it will be impossible to gain access to the other fruits since our lives will not be good conducive ground for the Holy Spirit to work in us to produce the fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5: 22-23.

So, let us sincerely reflect, looking in our hearts, and as we do this, let us ask ourselves the following questions.

Do we sincerely have the fruits of repentance in our lives?

If we do how have, we impacted the world around us in the ways we manifest this fruit?

If we don’t have these fruits, what is stopping us from acquiring and obtaining them?

Jesus is waiting for us to make the right decision and to take a step forward towards Him so that we can experience and walk in more of what the Father has for us by the Holy Spirit.

As we recognize the importance of the fruits of repentance, keeping ourselves always aware and nourished by constantly feeding on God’s Righteousness, Mercy, and Grace, the Holy Spirit will open us up to more of God’s character and ways.

Ebimobo W. Obasi.

PLEASE PRAY ALONG:

A Prayer to Know God More Deeply.

FATHER GOD, thank You for loving me! You have changed my life. Thank You for allowing me to live a life that shows how I have been changed by You. Please help me to bear good fruit so that others can know You more intimately. In JESUS MIGHTY NAME AMEN.