Trees and Fruit

"There sure are lots of apples on your trees this year!" Dominic said as he and his uncle walked through the orchard. "I can't wait for a piece of Aunt Susan's apple pie. It's soooo good with the big scoops of ice cream she always gives me!"

Uncle Mike smiled. "I'm looking forward to that pie too," he said as they began to pick the fruit. "I'm very thankful for the good crop of apples this year. Last year the weather wasn't good for them, and the crop was very small."

"I remember that," said Dominic. "There wasn't enough rain for them, was there?"

Uncle Mike shook his head. "No, it was pretty dry. They didn't get much sunshine either. We had a rather unusual summer--dry and cool."

Dominic and his uncle soon filled their baskets with apples. "Hey, Dominic, here's something to think about," said Uncle Mike as they started back to the house. "Just like trees soak up the sun, you need the Son to produce fruit in your life."

"You lost me, Uncle Mike," said Dominic with a puzzled expression. "What do you mean?"

"I mean the Son of God--Jesus Christ," Uncle Mike explained.

"I know we need Jesus to be saved and go to heaven," said Dominic, "but what does that have to do with fruit?"

"Didn't you learn a Bible verse that lists the fruit of the Spirit in your class at church?" asked Uncle Mike.

"Oh, yeah, I did," Dominic replied. "It talked about love, patience, kindness--things like that."

"Well, that's the kind of fruit Jesus produces," Uncle Mike said. "Not only do we need Him to be saved and have eternal life, we also need Him to grow fruit in our lives. People may think they're loving and kind and good, and things they do may look like fruit to them, but it isn't. In God's sight, it's worthless. Without Jesus, no one can produce fruit at all."

The scent of apple pie suddenly filled the air as they approached the house. "Mmmm," Dominic said, closing his eyes. "Smell that?"

"I sure do," said Uncle Mike. "It smells good!" Charles VanderMeer