Have you ever had a word that just rubs you wrong because of a past experience or person who used it negatively? 

Recently, Jim and I were talking about the idea of maturing in Christ, and Jim mentioned that the word “maturing” rubs him wrong because as a kid, he remembers people telling him to grow up and be more mature when he was having fun. So, instead of trying to overcome the negative association, we began to explore other words to use in place of it and landed on the term “ripen.” 

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, to ripen is “to bring to completeness or perfection.” 

In John 15:5, Jesus uses this metaphor of fruit to refer to godly character and conduct. He says, “yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.” Later, this same fruit is referred to in Galatians 5:22-23 as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These characteristics are the spiritual fruits that Jesus is developing or ripening in the lives of those who love him. 

With that in mind, let’s talk about fruit trees. I grew up in Minnesota, where apple picking is a typical fall tradition. If you’ve ever been to an apple orchard, you know that many of the trees have fruit scattered on the ground that has fallen off the branches due to wind. Generally, there are three types of apples you find in the grass: the ripe, the premature, and the rotten.  

The fruit can be hard to tell apart on the branches, but on the ground, it becomes exposed for what it is. If it is ripe, it produces pleasure and delight; if premature, it produces a sour bitterness; and rotten, a horrible distaste. When the branches are shaken, the true fruit is revealed. 

When life shakes us, what fruit – what characteristics – are revealed? 

How do we respond when we are passed by for a promotion, when the diagnosis is bad, when a friendship is broken, a job is lost, or money is tight? What fruit falls? In these moments – I believe the true condition of a heart is shown. And oh, how desperately, we should each desire that the fruit that falls is the ripe fruit of a godly life as listed in Galatians, not the immature fruit of anger or the rotten fruit of hatred and resentment. 

Lord, today I ask that you ripen your fruit in my life. Help me not grow any rotten fruit, but fruit that will bring others closer to you. In my work, produce good fruit for others to experience, and when I get bumped by a co-worker, I pray that my ripe fruit will be the first to fall.  

In Jesus’ name – Amen!

- Martha