CLICK 4 DETAILS
Gorgeous pecan trees. They tower above my head each year. They drop multiple nuts each fall. But not one is edible. Worms. Each and every nut is infested with worms. What's it take to make a healthy tree? To produce wormless nuts?
When I became a Christian over thirty years ago, I simply believed Jesus died on a cross to save me from my sin--all sin. I trusted that He--in some majestic, unfathomable way--was capable through His obedience to the Father in Heaven, shed His blood as the ultimate sacrifice for all time and all people. And I got to be one of those people because I opened the door of my heart and let Him come in to dwell forever in me.
I further believed that He would reside within the temple of the Holy Spirit--my body, heart, soul and mind--and would direct me, comfort me, teach me and convict me of all things necessary to complete whatever plan He had for my life. Upon my entrance into faith, I claimed and hung onto Proverbs 3:5-6 as a life verse: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not unto your own understanding, but in all your ways ackknowledge HIM and HE shall direct your paths." [emphasis mine]
Throughout my three-score--plus years of Christian life, these truthes have served me well. And in my total naive trust and faith, believe they have brought a measure of joy to my Father in Heaven. I am most certain He has laughed and chuckled at my ignorance at times, too. But one of the things I learned early in my walk with the Lord, is the importance of manifesting the fruit of the Spirit. It was one of the most valuable lessons I've learned.
I've been able to avoid many evils in life as a result. I've been able to pick through the produce of life and spot the moldy, blighted fruit of others and set my apples in another basket to protect against a spreading fungus. I've been able to smell a stench from within me and give it to Jesus and ask that He remove it. I've been able to open the vein of nourishment to my branch as a result and give Him the glory for having completed any production of blue-ribbon fruit for His picking.
Gossip. Talebearing. Strife. Bitterness. Ill-feelings. Judgmental attitudes. Condemnation of brothers or sisters. Prune me, Jesus. Cut away the suckers that rob the nourishment You seek to send to the branches of my heart.
And should I be as fruitless as a tree with empty wormy pecans...then cut me down, Lord. Cut me down and remove my worthless life from the chance of infecting others with my blighted soul.
But if there be anything of any value, let me stand and shade the lives of others. Let me hold the hammock for another's rest and meditation. It's the least I can do if I can't bear fruit of any value to You, O Lord. selahV
[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]
Comments