Last week when I was at the grocery store I spotted some peaches that looked promising, but on closer examination, even though they were ‘pretty’ on the outside, they were ‘pretty’ hard. Got them anyway, put them in my fridge and pretty much forgot about them. But one afternoon, days later, that hungry horn started blowing and, for a change, instead of grabbing a usual handful of M&M’s, I remembered those peaches. To my surprise, they were now wonderfully ripened, so juicy and sweet that when I started eating one, I realized I had to eat it over the sink. Those peaches were so hard and what a change after time; for now they had ripened and matured and were proof of a significant metamorphosis that happened behind closed doors.
That peach was a fruit produced from a healthy tree, picked at random, and used to satisfy a hunger. And there lies the analogy. God is the gardener who has planted Christ as His tree, we are the fruit of His glory for all to see. A ripened fruit goes through a process and it takes time for it to grow into maturity. It starts off tiny and hard on the inside and gradually softens as it grows through the storms and winds that blow through and around it. I was thinking of this peach…as it grows it carries within it a seed.
As it with is with us; as we grow in stature and maturity, we do so encasing the seed of Love within our hearts that Christ has planted. With God’s help, we develop the fruits that he has planned all along for us to share. We, like the fruit, get our nourishment from our roots… roots of knowing Christ and having a desire to carry on his ways and not holding tight to the ways of this world. Our fruit is a reflection of His glory.
Luke 6:43-45 For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit, for every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, not do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man our of the treasure of his own heart brings forth good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.
God sends his love throughout his secret tunnels to our heart and soul; growing us so that we will be enriched with the fruits of His Spirit. For as we mature and take hold of the grace that Christ offers, we become more and more able to use our fruits to help those who are hungry. And instead of looking to the world for earthly gratification, we are able to encourage others to seek Christ for solace, satisfaction and redemption.
I know this is corny…but don’t you think God is looking for fresh fruits and not sour grapes. We have a choice here….Do we let Christ take hold of our growth and help us to grow HIS way or do we let the sour grapes of the world jump in as a distraction and keep us from growing into His will for our lives. May we be mindful in our daily walk to let God produce within you the fruits that will reflect his love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.
Dear Lord, Thank you for the way that you are growing each of us and helping the fruits of the Spirit to come alive within us. May we honor you and trust you in the winds of trials and the storms of distractions to keep us steady and supported.Amen
Praise God wherever you are or whatever situation he has allowed you to be in…. for HIS glory will shine through!
