Can't Fake The Fruit
James 3:11
Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?
What’s coming out of you is a pretty good indicator of what’s inside of you. It’s not a mystery. Your mouth, your mood, and your mindset all flow from a source. James asks a rhetorical question: can fresh and bitter water flow from the same spring? The answer is no. In the same way, we can’t live like Christ is in us while constantly letting frustration, gossip, or bitterness spill out. The spring always reveals the source. And you can’t fake the flow for long.
That’s why fruit is never a performance issue. It’s a connection issue. Galatians 5 tells us the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These aren’t goals we strive toward. They are evidence of the Spirit’s work in us. Fruit grows naturally when we stay connected to Jesus. John 15 makes it clear: we bear fruit by abiding. Not by pushing harder or trying to impress people. Just by staying close to Him.
So, if people close to you never see love or patience or gentleness, it’s time to check the tree. If what’s coming out of you is bitterness, anger, or criticism, don’t focus on changing your behavior. Focus on changing your source. You can’t fake the fruit. Eventually, the truth will surface. And that’s not something to be ashamed of. It’s an invitation to surrender and let the Spirit of God bring real transformation.
Prayer:
Lord, I don’t want to fake fruit. I want to bear it. Help me abide in You today. Let my life be rooted in Your Spirit so that what flows out of me reflects You. Expose any bitter places in me and replace them with Your truth. Make me a spring of living water, not just for myself but for the people around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?
What’s coming out of you is a pretty good indicator of what’s inside of you. It’s not a mystery. Your mouth, your mood, and your mindset all flow from a source. James asks a rhetorical question: can fresh and bitter water flow from the same spring? The answer is no. In the same way, we can’t live like Christ is in us while constantly letting frustration, gossip, or bitterness spill out. The spring always reveals the source. And you can’t fake the flow for long.
That’s why fruit is never a performance issue. It’s a connection issue. Galatians 5 tells us the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These aren’t goals we strive toward. They are evidence of the Spirit’s work in us. Fruit grows naturally when we stay connected to Jesus. John 15 makes it clear: we bear fruit by abiding. Not by pushing harder or trying to impress people. Just by staying close to Him.
So, if people close to you never see love or patience or gentleness, it’s time to check the tree. If what’s coming out of you is bitterness, anger, or criticism, don’t focus on changing your behavior. Focus on changing your source. You can’t fake the fruit. Eventually, the truth will surface. And that’s not something to be ashamed of. It’s an invitation to surrender and let the Spirit of God bring real transformation.
Prayer:
Lord, I don’t want to fake fruit. I want to bear it. Help me abide in You today. Let my life be rooted in Your Spirit so that what flows out of me reflects You. Expose any bitter places in me and replace them with Your truth. Make me a spring of living water, not just for myself but for the people around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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