By Its Fruit

"Every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit."

How do we know that we are on the right path? How do we know that the Christian life that we are living is good? How do I know that I'm making progress in my religion/spirituality? Jesus in the passage of Matthew 7:15-20 gives us a clear answer. He teaches that you will know the rightness of your path by the fruit you produce. If the fruit is good, the path is good. If the fruit is bad, so is the path.

If we don't produce the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, etc., then we are not on the right track. If day by day my love and my joy aren't becoming bigger or deeper, then perhaps I am not living out the Christian life faithfully. The criterion is not that you go to church regularly or recite prayers without failing. You could go to church every day, and also be cruel and bitter in your heart. But the criterion is: Is your heart becoming more and more peaceful and joyful? Am I giving up my old habits of anger and unkindness, and instead embracing forgiveness and patience?

Spiritual growth is like good sleep. If I'm very irritable and restless today, perhaps I have not slept well last night. In the same way, if I am still carrying thoughts of revenge and resentment, then I am not spiritually well (mature). They are bad fruits, and I may have to change my path drastically. Prayer and faithfulness in Christian life is measured by the presence of fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22), not by elevating thoughts or sweet feelings or sensational piety or devotion.