As we become believers, we begin to bear the fruit of faith. My father-in-law loved his fruit trees and spent hours caring for his trees so they would bear much fruit. When you take care of fruit trees it is easy to see with your eyes if they are bearing fruit. A tree that does not bear fruit needs intervention by its caretaker so it can again be productive.
In many ways we are like fruit trees, and without faith in Jesus we don’t bear any fruit. It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit drawing us to the Lord that we have an opportunity to bear fruit.
Zacchaeus Begins to Bear Fruit
Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector. Most probably his focus in life was to make himself rich as he collected taxes. Spiritually, if he was a fruit tree, he was barren year after year. Then something happened. There was divine intervention by the Lord Jesus in the life of Zacchaeus.
Jesus comes to the town of Jericho where he lived, and Zacchaeus climbed up a sycamore-fig tree to see Him. Zacchaeus was also changing on the inside as he clamored into the tree. He knew he was missing something and that was a relationship with Jesus as his Savior.
Luke 195 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” 6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy… 8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” [1]
The Lord Wants Us to Bear Fruit
We often think of faith as something that is confined exclusively to our head and our heart. But our faith doesn’t just affect our thoughts and emotions, it produces action. After a simple invitation from Jesus, Zacchaeus offered to return money to anyone he had defrauded and to give half his possessions to the poor.
Faith changes us. Zacchaeus was wealthy, crooked, and greedy. However, his faith in Jesus changed the way he lived his life. How is your faith being demonstrated in your life? How can the Lord help you bear more fruit?
To hear more about the fruit of faith, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/seeking-the-lord-changes-my-life-zacchaeus
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Lk 19:8–10). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.