Produce Fruit in 2026

Matthew seems to be the book of choice for me this month. During Thanksgiving, I finally accepted the fact that I would not be traveling to Hawaii for my 50th Birthday in January 2026.  I pondered what other exciting thing I could do to celebrate this milestone.  To write a book and publish it on my birthday became the goal.  This would be the fastest I ever produced a book, if I could think of something to write.  I started praying about it, but no book would come to mind.  I started writing my blog on Nov. 29 and it was getting long, too long for a blog post.  Then I realized God had answered my prayer.  He gave me a short book to write and publish for my birthday!  I finished it this morning, and ordered my first (hopefully only) author copies this afternoon.  It’s a memoir, of sorts, called Teach Like Jesus.  In the book, I use examples of Jesus’ teaching from the book of Matthew, to counter the idea that effective teaching can take place without engaging the students.  Look for it to debut on January 16, 2026!

As I pondered and prayed about a message to end 2025 and begin 2026, the book of Matthew came to mind again.  In Matthew 1, we learn the lineage of Jesus and some of the details of His birth.  In Matthew 2, we read about how His birth was announced and received at the time.  In Matthew 3, we are introduced to John the Baptist who announced the beginnings of Jesus’s ministry to Israel and surrounding people.  

Baptising all who would come, in the Jordan River, he advised the people to repent.  Once word spread that he was baptising, the Pharisee began to arrive and John called them out!  The Pharisees were the religious leaders and  teachers of the law of that time.  They were known for being very legalistic, promoting rules for other rules.  They were not known for following the rules and laws they set.  Jesus calls them hypocrites! (Mat 23:13)  As they approach John the Baptist, he calls them a brood of vipers. (Mat 3:7)  Not a very welcoming way to say hello!  He then emphatically advises them, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Mat 3:8 NIV) When I read that statement, it seems super important, but I do not understand it from the NIV translation. Because it seems so important, I consulted other translations.  The one that makes sense to me is the New Living Translation, “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.” (Mat 3:8 NLT)

That should be our collective New Year’s Resolution.  
Mic Drop. 🎤

John advises that when someone looks at our life, it should be evident that we have repented of our sins, we should not still be living in sin!  To repent means we first have realized our sin, then we asked God to forgive our sin, and we have turned away from our sin.  When we turn away from sin, we turn to God and adopt His ways.  As we live our lives and people observe our behavior, whether it be at work, at the game, at church, after church, on Facebook, on Instagram, in the grocery store - wherever we may be or whatever we may post, it should be evident that we have repented of our sins and are trying to live a life that honors God.  

While I understand the NLT translation better, it does not use the term “fruit” as the NIV does.  The word fruit is a reference to the Fruit of the Spirit discussed in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Once we have repented of our sins and turned to God, we must conduct ourselves with love, peace and kindness.  We should try to understand other perspectives offering other forbearance.  We should seek to do good, do what we say we will do, be gentle and controlled.  The Fruit of the Spirit is evidence of our relationship with Jesus.  Our constant display of the Fruit of the Spirit is how people know we have repented of our sins and turned to God.  

Why is it important that others know?  This world is full of people who act on the flesh.  The number of people who live in sin far outnumbers those who live for Christ.  While many people don’t know Jesus, they have heard of Him, and they know traits to look for in someone who is saved.  Often, the unsaved look for the fruit in people to ask questions on how to become saved.  If the unsaved cannot tell by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and are living for Christ, because you bear no fruit, then you aren’t truly saved and you need a different new year’s resolution. “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.” (James 2:24) “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:26)  
Sorry to give you a tough message on the last Sunday of the year, but I’ve got to share the truth.  Either produce fruit in keeping with repentance, or repent and begin to produce fruit.   As I stated last week, Jesus is going to return for His people and only those who are ready (producing fruit) will be taken to Heaven with Him.  Amen.  Happy New Year!!! 

I thank you for reading! 
I love reading your comments - I read them all!
Please share with someone else who could use a reminder to produce fruit in 2026 - which is everyone!  Amen! 
​Kim