Fruit Of Righteousness
I recall when I worked for an engineering and testing company; I wore a uniform that represented the company I worked for. I had a hat and shirts with a logo and color scheme, and I drove a vehicle with the company name on it. They wanted everyone to know what company I represented. The company also had a code of ethics to follow on the job because those under their employ were representing the company.
For generations, branding in the form of uniforms and logos on hats and shirts, along with a code of ethics representing the culture of a company or ministry, has been used to clearly indicate that a person wearing and conducting themselves in a certain way was part of the company. No one who is thankful for having a job or position that benefits them with a company or ministry spends their time complaining about it or making it an issue of offense or conflict. It has seemed apparent that those who are grateful for what they have been given are happy to dress the part.
I still remember the commercial for UPS, "What can brown do for you?" To this day, if someone sees a brown work truck or a person wearing a brown uniform, they automatically know it is a UPS vehicle or employee.
We could say that such behavior is a form of bearing the fruit of the company or ministry.
Jesus said something very important and wise.
Luke 6:44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.
We live our lives according to who we truly are. I am a child of God, and therefore, I tend to conduct myself as such in all situations. When I came to Jesus in response to the Father's drawing and the Holy Spirit's conviction of my need for Him, I became a new creation, and it changed me at the core of my being.
Righteousness moved into me and replaced the unrighteousness that once ruled my life entirely. I discovered new desires and ways of seeing life, and out of that change in motivations and desires, I made different choices than I would have made before I came to know Jesus. Paul was not praying for the Philippians in ignorance when he prayed,
Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Jesus is not ineffective in the work of transformation in a believer's life. When we live thankful lives, aware of His goodness and grace, we cannot help but bear the fruits of righteousness. In other words, we live out what we are within. This is why knowing who we are and whose we are is so important. It is why it says in,
Romans 6:13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
We were created in Christ to bear the fruits of righteousness by means of the resurrection life and power He gives us.
