Friday, May 18, 2018

The Lemon Tree Is Pretty But The Fruit Is Impossible To Eat - And So Is Not Choosing God



Look at the birds of the air….Consider the lilies of the field… —Matthew 6:26, 28

{CHAMBERS} “So often we impair God’s designed influence, which He desires to exhibit through us, because of our own conscious efforts to be consistent and useful. Jesus said there is only one way to develop and grow spiritually, and that is through focusing and concentrating on God. In essence, Jesus was saying, “Do not worry about being of use to others; simply believe on Me.” […] Jesus is teaching here that growth in our spiritual life comes not from focusing directly on it, but from concentrating on our Father in heaven. Our heavenly Father knows our circumstances, and if we will stay focused on Him, instead of our circumstances, we will grow spiritually— just as “the lilies of the field.” The people who influence us the most are not those who detain us with their continual talk, but those who live their lives like the stars in the sky and “the lilies of the field”— simply and unaffectedly. Those are the lives that mold and shape us. If you want to be of use to God, maintain the proper relationship with Jesus Christ by staying focused on Him, and He will make use of you every minute you live— yet you will be unaware, on the conscious level of your life, that you are being used of Him.”

{ELGIN} (1 Corinthians 1:27) “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong”  What does that have to do with my spiritual life?  The key to being successful in my Christian life is not trying harder.  It’s by “faithing” harder.  If someone wants to be successful in life .. let’s say as a pianist .. they must study and practice for hours on end.  Hard work will yield its reward.  But no so with our new life in Christ.  We have been saved by “grace through faith and not of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9)  Dr. Henry Blackaby, the author of Experiencing God, said “You have heard people say ‘Don’t just stand there, do something’.  But God is saying, ‘Don’t just do something, stand there.’”  Think about that.  Are you doing your best to not sin .. to be a better person .. mother .. father .. husband .. wife … son .. daughter .. friend … Christian?  God chose the simple things … the natural man .. you  old nature reasons that acting like a Christian will make you a Christian .. but what to do with all of the sin that accompanies that effort.  God says … love Me … grow you relationship with Me .. through prayer, the Word, fellowship with other Christians – I really should say “like-minded Christians.  My point is that you need to seek out Christians in whom the light of Christ is shining bright.  Christians who will encourage you in the faith and not just commiserate with you.

Listen, I know that it is very difficult to not seek out those that will sympathize with you, even empathize with you.  You are seeking comfort and assurance. But you need to go to the source of true comfort.  (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” What we need are people who will walk with us as we move closer to God.  That is a decision that we must all make … but that many Christians, to their detriment, choose not to make.  Instead they prefer to do things the way they think best  … and yield the fruit of that choice .. and the fruit is bitter.  Friend isn’t it time you looked to another tree? Think about it.

I was just reminded of a song from years back ... it's about a lemon tree ... a refrain goes "Lemon tree very pretty, and the lemon flower is sweet, but the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat."  A great analogy for our choosing any way to success in our new life other than the way that God has ordained.  Blessings ...

No comments: