We had grown from seed a tall orange tree, and expected it to produce many good oranges for us. After all, we had taken the orange seed from a huge and fruitful orange tree. Why shouldn’t this plant be just as fruitful and delicious as the first plant, or so we figured. Thus, watering faithfully and watching grow from a tiny green sprout into a tall plant, we happily nurtured this plant with everything it needed to survive. A nice sun room, warmth, water, soil, everything it needed was provided. But before long, we noticed changes between the two plants. The orange tree with many oranges clinging happily to it was bushy, and wide. It seemed to spread its branches and leaves as far out as they could go. Whereas the other plant grew straight up, reaching for the ceiling, and almost accomplishing it’s goal. However, the most noticeable difference between the two plants soon was discovered--the incredibly long thorns that completely overtook this tall plant. Not one tiny orange, pitiful or not, grew out of this plant. After giving it many years of growing, we finally gave up on it and dumped it into its grave--the compost pile. This plant was given everything possible to grow into a healthy fruitful tree. So shouldn’t it have grown into one, instead of an tall, poky tree?
What sort of fruit do we bear? We’re given the chance to read our Bibles, to attend Bible studies, to grow in our faith. But sometimes, even though we’re given all the things we could possibly need, we remain fruitless and thorny. Luke 6:43-44 says, “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.” As this verse says, people don’t pick fruit from thornbushes or briers. What good is a thornbush or brier bush? None at all. Many bear thorns and bristles, but only some choose fruit. Which will you choose to bear?
Kayla Joy
