We planted two apple trees in our garden four years ago, and last autumn they produced a disappointingly four or five apples. We had a strong windstorm blow through the west of Ireland the spring before, taking almost all the blossoms from the trees before they were pollinated. With those conditions, there was no hope for a good apple crop in the autumn.  

Just like our apple trees need good weather conditions to produce fruit, people need good heart conditions for bearing spiritual fruit. I’m reminded of the parable of the sower from Luke 8 (see also Matthew 13 and Mark 4), where the seed that produces a plentiful crop is the seed that lands on good soil. The good soil represents a noble and good heart as Luke states in his gospel, or an undivided heart as one commentator interprets it (Expositor’s Bible Commentary).

But how are we to know when someone’s heart has these right conditions? 

I couldn’t predict (or control) the windstorm that took our apple trees’ blossoms, and we sowers of gospel seeds can’t predict (or control) the conditions of the hearts to which we throw our seeds. We may never see crops unfolding in the lives of other people, but we must be faithful to obey Jesus’ command to sow. And in that faithfulness, we will see fruit…the spiritual fruit in our own hearts cultivated from obedience to our Lord.  

Our apple trees will hopefully be different this year as we’ve had no bad windstorms, and the trees had loads of blossoms for the pollinators to cross-pollinate. Currently, the conditions all seem to be good. And as I watch and pray for apples to form, I will sow gospel seeds in the people around me in the hope that heart conditions are ready to receive it.