Fruit Inspectors

Today I want to share a memory of my dear friend, Lisa.  She was not only my friend, but my colleague, my prayer partner, mentor and so much more!  Lisa was vibrant!  Her personality was effervescent, contagious!  She never knew a stranger and deeply cared/loved everyone.  She was authentic, honest, real!  She had a deep relationship with Jesus and was always introducing people to Him!  Lisa would stop on the street; ask people their name and if she could pray for them.  For a short season of about two years, we had the opportunity to work in the same building complex.  At lunch, we would put on running clothes and run through the neighborhoods within a few blocks.  The area had seen “better days.”  Houses were in disrepair and garbage abounded. As we ran, we prayed. We asked God for renewal of the area, revitalization of hearts and minds for the people living there.  We prayed specifically for revival.   At times, we would stop and chat with people and pray with them.  Sometimes, we were able to help individuals with specific needs.

One of Lisa’s favorite things to say was “God tells us not to judge others.  But He wants us to be fruit inspectors.”  As I write, I smile.  My memory can still hear her laugh as she said the quote.  Many times, I have thought about this quote.  Spending time with people, you get to know them.  As I spent years with Lisa, I knew she was genuine.  Her love for Christ literally poured from every pore in her being!  I was able to observe all of the good fruit in her life.  She overflowed with the fruit of the Spirit:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Why?  Because she spent time with Jesus.  She would read the Bible, pray, and obey.  I have found that you can’t “hang out with Jesus” without being filled with His Spirit!  The more you surrender your will to Him, the more He fills you with His fruit.  We are called to love and become more like Jesus.  It is good to become a fruit inspector so that we can identify people that are like-minded; bearing good fruit. 

First, we need to start with a self-evaluation.  What does the fruit look like in my life? Do I love, truly love the unlovely?  Am I faithful to read my Bible, pray, surrender my will?  Do I forgive?  How do I treat people?  How are you doing so far on the quiz?  I know that I could do far better.  I want the fruit in my life to be good.  When picking fruit from a store, I want my apples and grapes to be crisp and sweet, not mushy.  I want my bananas to be yellow and firm without brown flecks and soft spots.  Likewise, I want my life to be filled with the sweet fruit of the Spirit.