Exhortation Station

Proverbs 11:30 — “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls.”

It is our Father’s desire that His people bear much fruit.

John 15:8 — “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”

Matthew 5:16 — “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Not only is fruit sweet to the taste, it also contains seeds from which a new fruit-bearing plant can sprout. When others see our fruit, the hope is not only that they be blessed by it, but also that seeds of truth might be sown in their hearts. Does the fruit we are bearing move people to say to themselves, “That’s different; I want that”? Does our fruit win souls?

In our desire to win souls, we must take care not to compromise the truth to make it more palatable. The forbidden fruit in the garden was also “good for food” and “desirable to make one wise” (Genesis 3:6).

James 3:16-18 — “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Yah’s wisdom is first pure. We cannot sacrifice purity on the alter of peace-ability. Truth spoken with clarity and grace — that’s the key.

Colossians 4:6 — “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”

Finally, Psalm 92:12-14 says,

“The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, he will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. ¹³ Planted in the house of YHWH, they will flourish in the courts of our God. ¹⁴ They will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green, ¹⁵ To declare that YHWH is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

Are your roots firmly planted in the courts of your God, that you may bear fruit consistently, regardless of the season? May we examine our fruit that it may be blameless, prolific, and sweet until the return of our Master.