Full of Fruit

Scripture

Philippians 1:¹¹ having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Observation

Paul’s prayer for the Philippians continues as he has a vision for what God wants to do in and through his people. His vision is for the very best in God’s people, and this means a life that is filled to the full with the fruit of God’s righteousness. This is in contrast to bearing fruit, which he speaks about on other occasions, but this is a fullness of life where the inside nature and the outside character are all one and the same. 

This life that is full of fruit comes as a result of the work of Jesus Christ and not through human persistence. This is unexpected fullness of fruit in the life of an individual who is unable to obtain righteousness on their own. This life becomes a testimony to the work and power of God. The result is that God is praised and glorified. 

Application

Paul’s prayer reveals his vision for a first century church and beyond. Every member of the Christian community is to be growing in nearness and participation with Christ. The result is a life that is filled with God’s fruit, which is a righteous character. What we see on the outside is the same as what we see on the inside. 

When my husband and I lived in the former Soviet Union we learned about a particular phrase that was used about those who were not truly in favor of the communist party. They were called radishes, for they were red on the outside, but white on the inside. What they portrayed every day when they interacted with people did not reflect what they truly believed. Paul is worried that something like this may be happening in the lives of the individuals who are a part of the church in Philippi. 

There are two divergent pathways that an individual can take that will drive them from a cohesive spiritual life. First of all, they may believe that they are very spiritual in their own lives, reading scriptures and spending time in prayer, but if there is no outward sign of the inward act of God, then they are not full of fruit. Instead, there is the tendency to become legalistic and hard hearted without the beauty of fruit. On the other hand, someone can become very involved in good works but remain empty on the inside. A fake kind of Christianity can be portrayed to the world but when poked and prodded by the difficulties of life, the true nature of the individual leaks out. There is no fruit, and the work that they have done will soon wither away and die. 

John Wesley tells us that we are to bear fruit of “inward and outward holiness, [with] all good tempers, words, and work; and that so abundantly, that we may be filled with them.”  He goes on to say, “The branch and the fruits must derive both their virtue and their very being from the all-supporting, all-supplying root, Jesus Christ.” (John Wesley’s Notes) We are to adopt a cruciform lifestyle like that of Jesus Christ and only in this way may we be filled with Jesus’ fruit. 

We may not be able to get out and interact with the world during this season of COVID, but most of us have a circle of individuals who are observing our lives with greater magnitude at this time. Two days ago I went upstairs to greet my grandchildren for the day and my oldest granddaughter noticed I was wearing a red shirt and black pants. She wanted to look like “Bagogo” so she insisted that she had to go and change her clothing for the day — into a red top and black pants. The next day the little girls noticed my fingernails and were filled with questions regarding my decision making process. When they come down to see me they notice what I’m reading or writing, or fixing for supper. Nothing misses their bright eyes and minds. I want them to see that “Bagogo” is the same inside and out. I want them to know that I love Jesus and that I am full of fruit. I want them to know Christ. 

When we are poked and prodded by life, what will leak out of us? Paul’s prayer has become my prayer, that we would produce a harvest of righteousness — because of Jesus. 

Prayer

Lord, I pray for a life that is filled with your fruit to overflowing. Amen.