Are you a fruit inspector or a fruit producer?
Tomorrow I will preach a message on John 15:5. In that text, Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." Jesus made it clear that the only way we can produce fruit as Christians is as a result of a close relationship with Jesus.
So, are you producing fruit as a Christian? There are two kinds we are capable of producing.
One is interior. This is referred to as the "fruit of the spirit." As the Holy Spirit works in us our lives give evidence of the fruit of the spirit.
The second is exterior. As we minister for Christ, as we live the Christian life, there is fruit that is a result of our labor.
So, are you producing fruit? Many Christians are not. There are thousands of people who are saved but aren't producing any fruit because their relationship with Christ is not what it should be. God wants us to produce fruit.
Unfortunately, many Christians are more prone to "fruit inspection" rather than "fruit production." "Fruit inspectors" are those who are always examining the fruit or lack of fruit in the lives of other Christians. The world is filled with fruit inspectors.
I encourage you to be a fruit producer for Jesus.