Fresh Fruit

Do you ever find yourself looking around the fridge for something?

What exactly is it you’re looking for?

You aren’t really sure,

But maybe a sandwich of some sort.

No. That wasn’t it.

Maybe a pickle, sweet or sour?

No. That wasn’t it.

Last night’s leftover dinner?

No. That is definitely not it.

Then you see it.

There in the corner of the crisper.

A forgotten bag of oranges.

Yes. That will do it.

Your palate is getting ready for the cold sweetness of one of those oranges.

As you begin to peel off the outer covering to reveal those sweet sections of goodness, you notice something.

How long has this been here?

A little bit squishy, A little bit off color –

Yuck!

This fruit is far past it’s sell by date, and is good for nothing.

It may help make your garbage disposal smell a tad better,    but there is no way you can eat it.

It s simply NOT FRESH.

Well experience has told me that my walk with Christ is much the same.

I must see that the fruit of my spirit is replaced often.

Daily if at all possible.

 

What is the fruit of the Spirit you ask?

Galatians 5:21-23 in the New International Bible says it like this;

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.

I find that if I do not intentionally “Eat” this fruit when it is fresh, then my life becomes squishy and a bit off color.

The love, I show isn’t quite as loving.

The joy I have isn’t as joyful.

The peace I usually experience is quite so peaceful.

You can see what I mean – the rest of the list will be the same.

Not fresh.

Not at optimum healthiness or flavor.

My walk with Christ will then become boring and tasteless, difficult to handle.

Not at all the picture that I want to re-present as Christ.

Your next question is probably

“How can I replace it often, much less daily?”

The easiest way I have found to do this is to make an appointment.

We make appointments for doctors and dentists and football games, why not for refreshing ourselves with God?

This appointment does not need to be lengthy.

It can be ten minutes or two hours.

Hey – You – Busy mom of pre-schoolers – Listen up!

It can be thirty seconds behind the bathroom door!

The place doesn’t matter as much as making the appointment.

GOD APPLAUDES YOUR EFFORTS!

Just make that appointment and keep it!

Often. Daily if at all possible.

Now what do I do once I make that appointment and get to the appointment place?

Well there s not just one thing you can do.

There are a variety of them.

• Read a Proverb each day (There are 31, one for each day!)
• Read a Psalm or a portion of one (Even if it is just a paragraph)
• Be silent. Direct your thoughts toward God.
• Sing a song or hymn.
• Read a daily devotional. (Available free from most churches or online – Google Daily Devotional – They can even be delivered to your smart phone!)
• Ask God what HE wants you to do today. (He love to give us His wisdom – We just need to ask)

Above all, KEEP THE APPOINTMENT!

The harder or longer your day is,

The more likely it is that you need to double up on your intentions!

Try it

Take that grocery cart for a spin around the fruit section –

Then see if your love and joy and peace and patience and kindness and goodness and faithfulness and gentleness and self-control take an upswing!

Everyone around you will thank you,

But most of all, your relationship with the Fresh Fruit Grower will begin to blossom sweetly!

Oh what a difference that will make!

 

Matthew 7:20 (ESV)

Thus you will recognize them by their fruits

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Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

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