An apple tree bears apples. But the process is not complete until that apple falls and allows its seeds to penetrate the earth, finally producing another apple tree. So the final fruit of any apple tree is a new apple tree. And the fruit of any Christian is another Christian. We are born to reproduce.

The seed that produces new Christians is the Word of God. The field is the world. As we are faithful in witnessing for Christ both in daily life and with our lips, we are sure to influence others to come to the Saviour.

Jesus told His disciples that fruit bearing glorifies the Heavenly Father. We sometimes forget that and in our zeal to please the Father we do a number of things that are less important than telling others of the Saviour. These good and beneficial things can often masquerade as the most important things to be done… but nothing is more important than giving out the Gospel.

Success in the Christian life is dependent on choosing priorities correctly. And witnessing must be high on our list if we are to glorify our Heavenly Father.

Witnessing for Christ may not make one popular. In this context Jesus said: “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you, If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:18-19).

We must bear fruit… whatever the cost!