"Deformed Fruit"

"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them".  Matthew 7:20

We used to have two pear trees in our yard.  For years they made lots of delicious pears.  We had so many and they were so good that we were able to enjoy eating them, canning them and giving them away.  But after several years we had to cut the trees down.  They got some sort of disease.  They still produced pears, but the pears were shriveled up and had blotches on them.  They didn't get very big; their growth was stunted.  Their shape was deformed.  And although they were pears, they didn't look like a pear and couldn't be eaten.

This reminds me of many Christians.  The Bible says that we will be known by our fruit.  They are still a Christian, but they don't look like it.  They have allowed themselves to become "deformed".  They have allowed their fruit to become "diseased".  They don't look very appealing and the "taste" that comes from their lives is not desirable.

We know what caused our trees to become diseased.  As they got bigger, the cedar trees they were planted near got bigger too and the two trees can't be planted too closely together.  It is called cedar-apple rust disease. 

What causes the deformity and disease in a Christian's life that we are talking about?  It is caused by being too closely involved with the world.  When you become "of the world" instead of just "in the world", your fruit gets contaminated.  It also comes as a result of holding on to anger, bitterness, resentment, revenge, unforgiveness, hurt, pain and guilt.  These can affect your fruit and although you are a Christian and should be producing love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, etc., the fruit will be marred.  It won't look like what it is, and it certainly won't be desirable.

We could have sprayed our trees and worked with them for a while to heal them.  But we cut them down instead of going through the process.  A Christian who has become "deformed" can be healed and start producing good fruit again.  They do it through repentance and giving everything that contaminates their heart over to the Lord and give the Holy Spirit full control.

Have a great day.  Has your fruit become contaminated and is now deformed and undesirable? 

"Living For Eternity"

"For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country".  Hebrews 11:14

The "they" this verse is referring to is all of those who lived by faith and died in faith.  Their faith was in the God of heaven and earth.  They trusted and believed what He said.  They held on to His promises whether they saw them fulfilled in their lives or not.  They knew that the Lord was faithful as promised.

They also knew that this earth was not their home.  Like a pilgrim, they were only passing through.  They knew that there was more to their existence than this life and what it has to offer.  They knew that if their faith was in this Almighty God that when they died, they would go into His presence to live with Him for an eternity.  Because of this, they kept their hearts and minds stayed on Him and were ever mindful that they were just "passing through" this earth.

I look around at so many of those who "live by faith"-- Christians, believers, followers of Jesus-- in this present day and see a different attitude about eternity.  Most are so consumed with this life-- what to eat, drink, wear, where to live, how much money they are trying to make, politics, the economy, entertainment, etc.  They act as if this life is all there is.  They act, live and talk like this temporary is the eternal.  Well, it is not!

Those who made it into the "Hall of Faith" (Hebrews 11) knew this.  I want to say to my fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord-- This world is temporary!!! It is not eternal!!!  It will pass away one day.  You will die one day.  This is all going to be done away with one day.  You will not live here forever.  There is an eternity that awaits us.  Live for it!!! Stop living for the temporary!!  Refocus and get your eyes off of this life and onto the one that is to come.  Eternity never ends-- this life does.  Don't let this temporary life rob you of eternal life.  Keep eternity in mind.  Live your life with eternity in mind.  Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also". (John 14:1,2)

Have a great day.  This life is temporary.  The one to come is eternal.  Which one are you living for?

"Captive In Destiny"

"And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand".  Genesis 39:4

The Lord doesn't always deliver us out of affliction, trials and testing.  He doesn't always deliver us from them.  Sometimes He delivers us in them.  Meaning we still go through them but instead of them holding us in bondage we have freedom.

Joseph was not delivered out of Egypt.  Daniel was not delivered out of Babylon.  They both lived most of their lives there and even died there.  But while they were there, the Lord was with them doing great and mighty things in their lives and through their lives. 

Joseph ruled alongside Pharaoh as second highest in command in the greatest nation on earth.  Daniel was made a prince who ruled providences in Babylon under three different kings-- also the greatest nation on earth at that time.  They each were captives in body, but they were free in spirit, heart and mind. 

Although they were captives, they were still promoted in their captivity.  They still served the Lord in their captivity.  They still fulfilled their destiny as captives.  Instead of us always praying for deliverance from "captivity", why not pray to see if this is part of God's plan for your life.  I know this is not a very popular message.  We don't want captivity.  We want comfort.  We don't want to have to go through anything like that.  But like Joseph and Daniel, this might be the very thing that your destiny and God given assignment is wrapped up in.

Have a great day.  We may not always be delivered from our captivity, but that captivity might in actuality be part of our destiny.   

"Foolish Way, But Best Way"

"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters".  Genesis 1:2

In verse one we see that God created the heavens and the earth.  In verse two there was darkness and chaos in it.  In verse three God speaks into the darkness and chaos and brings forth light.  Is your life full of chaos and darkness?  Are you going through a time of difficulties?  Do you feel like you are in the wilderness and facing tremendous problems?  Well, be encouraged, the Lord knows how to turn your darkness into light and your chaos into something good.

In verse three the Lord brought forth light into the situation by speaking to it-- "And God said".  When God is working on our behalf, He may not always do it the way we think He should do it, the way we would do it or the way we want Him to do it, but He knows how to do it the best way. 

God's ways are not the same as our ways.  They are so much better than ours.  His thoughts on the matter aren't our thoughts about it.  They are so much higher.  He sees the whole situation.  He sees it from beginning to end.  He sees the full picture. 

God's way of working in our darkness and trials may seem foolish to us.  In verse two He simply "spoke" to it.  We want God to "put His hands on it".  We want some physical sign that He is doing it. For example, it must have seemed foolish to the Israelites when they needed water for God to have Moses strike a rock.  But as foolish as it may have seemed, they received water. 

The point is:  God knows how to turn your chaos and darkness into something good.  "And God said-- then God saw it was good".  Just trust Him and trust Him to do it His way which will always be the best way.

Have a great day.  God knows how to bring something good out of the chaos in your life and He knows the best way of doing it.   

"Come After"

"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me".  Luke 9:23

Jesus offers an invitation to anyone who will to come after Him.  This phrase "come after" has a two-fold meaning.  One means to follow behind something or someone.  Many are "coming after" Jesus like this.  They are following Him through religious formality.  They go to church, they have a church membership, they read the Bible, give offerings, say prayers and try to treat others kindly.  They stay away from alcohol and other vices and immorality.  They are doing the works, but have they really accepted the invitation?

Have you ever heard anyone say that they were "going after" something?  You may have heard those who participate in the Olympics talk about "going after the gold".  What do they mean?  It means they are passionately pursuing that gold metal.  They are doing whatever it takes to obtain it.  They are making whatever sacrifices that are necessary in order to win it. They aren't letting anything stop them, hinder them or get in their way from obtaining it.  They are keeping their eye on the prize and doing everything in their power to pursue it.  This is the second meaning of "come after".  This is the invitation that Jesus has given us.  To passionately pursue Him.  To go after Him with everything we have and are.  To see Him as the greatest "prize" to be received.

Have you accepted His invitation?  Are you "coming after" Him?  Which definition are you coming after Him with?  Are you following Him through religion practices only-- the dos and don'ts, the list of religious rules and regulations?  Or are you following Him with a passionate pursuit?  Having "eyes" only for Him?  Going after Him with all you have?  Loving Him with all your heart, soul, strength and mind?  Giving/sacrificing all to have that relationship with Him?  Making Him your heart and life's goal?  You are either following Him one way or the other.  Which is it?

Have a great day.  How are you "coming after" Jesus?