What if Jesus isn’t impressed by how fruitful we look—but by whether the fruit growing in our lives actually feeds somebody else? In the first message of the Grow A Pear series, we discover that the Fruit of the Spirit isn’t about showing off how “good” we are; it’s about becoming so deeply connected to Jesus that His character naturally begins to grow in us.
Jesus’ encounter with a leafy fig tree in Mark 11 reveals the danger of having plenty of leaves but no fruit. The tree looked promising, but it delivered nothing. In the same way, our outward Christian appearance—our worship, Bible verses, church involvement, or Christian symbols—can never substitute for a life that actually produces the character of Christ.
But fruit has a purpose: it is meant to be received. God grows His fruit in us so that others can experience His love through us. And fruit problems are ultimately root problems. Jesus tells us in John 15 that the answer isn’t to try harder, but to remain connected to Him.
Juicy Love & Joyful Humility explores the first two fruits of the Spirit: love and joy. Love moves us beyond ourselves, while joy gives us stability when circumstances change. Together, they teach us the humility of a branch bending low so its fruit becomes reachable for someone else.
Ultimately, we look to Jesus. He loved by serving, welcomed the overlooked, washed feet, carried a cross, and endured it for the joy set before Him. We don’t bear fruit to earn His love—we bear fruit because we have already received it.
