TO CHEW ON: "They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.
Therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies." Proverbs 1:30,31
One of the things that persuaded me to give my life back to the Lord when I was backslidden was this principle of fruit. For the fruit of even a few years of living away from the Lord was not that good!
The Bible speaks often of sin's fruit. It is:
Bitter - Moses prophesied that Israel would rebel against God and in rebellion her fruit would be "...the vine of Sodom and the fields of Gomorrah / Their grapes are gall" - Deuteronomy 32:32.
Disappointing: Just like the vineyard owner was disappointed by his workers' efforts in Isaiah's vineyard song, targeted to Israel's leaders who had become unjust and oppressive - Isaiah 5:2.
Selfish: According to Hosea, talking about Israel in her backslidden state - Hosea 10:1.
Deceitful: Another fruit of going one's own way that Hosea mentions - Hosea 10:13.
Corrupt: Giving evidence of the kind of tree (life) really on display (Jesus in Matthew 7:17).
Diverse and plentiful: Paul contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 where he lists some of the fruits in sin's fruit bowl: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, cursing, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, "and the like" (just in case he's missed any) - Galatians 5:19,20..
It sure makes one want to have the other kind of fruit—wisdom's fruit—doesn't it?
PRAYER: Dear God, this list of sin's fruits shows me again how important it is to give You—the source of all wisdom—the control of my life. Help me to do that day by day. Amen.
MORE: The fruit of the Spirit
"The the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." - Galatians 5:22,23
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