Walk the Change, Bear the Fruit
“Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance…” – Matthew 3:8 (NASB)
There’s something powerful about the message John the Baptist delivered in the wilderness. His words weren’t soft or easy to swallow. He wasn’t interested in empty rituals or surface-level change. John called people to prove their repentance, to produce fruit that matched the heart change they claimed.
It’s one thing to feel sorry for our mistakes. It’s another to live differently because of them. John’s challenge wasn’t just for the religious leaders of his day, it’s for us, too. Real repentance isn’t about looking the part or saying the right things. It’s about a life transformed. It’s about actions that show the world we’ve turned toward God.
But what does this fruit look like? It’s kindness where there was once selfishness. It’s forgiveness where bitterness used to grow. It’s generosity instead of greed. It’s walking in the light, not just knowing where the light is.
Producing fruit takes time, patience, and pruning. It means staying connected to Jesus, the true vine, who gives us the strength to grow. And like the Magi who journeyed to worship Jesus, living out repentance is an ongoing journey, a daily decision to follow, to trust, and to reflect God’s character.
When we walk the change, when our lives show the work God is doing within us, we bear fruit that points others to Him.
Reflection Question:
What kind of fruit is your life producing? In what areas is God calling you to live out your repentance more fully today?
Prayer:
Lord, I don’t want to just say I’ve changed—I want to live it. Help me to produce fruit that’s real, lasting, and honoring to You. Teach me to walk in step with You and to show the world, through my actions, that I belong to You. Prune what needs to go, grow what needs to thrive, and make my life a living testimony of Your grace. Amen.
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