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Three years ago, in June 2017, we moved into our present house. This was our second attempt at downsizing! As it was a new build our small back garden was a blank canvas crying out for colour and texture. What fun it has been making numerous trips to the garden centres to purchase various flora and fauna to furnish our borders and pots.
One such purchase was a small hawthorn tree bearing the label 'Double Red Hawthorn- produces a profusion of scarlet flowers in clusters during late spring'. As the first spring season arrived we watched and waited with baited breath for the promised profusion of double scarlet flowers to appear. Spring came and went but no flowers to be seen. We gave it the benefit of the doubt believing that it possibly needed time to settle in and establish itself. Perhaps next year it would perform. Next spring came and went but still no flowers.
This year, having still not witnessed a single bloom, let alone a profusion of double blooms, we began to wonder does the label fit the tree or the tree fit the label? Have we been duped? Then, almost as though it had been listening to our moans, the tree capitulated and gradually it started to produce its blooms. I'd like to say we were at last rewarded for our patience but actually, we had been anything but patient but were rewarded anyway. Yet another lesson from nature.
As we are reminded in Ecclesiastes 3 everything has its season and this is as true in the spiritual realm as it is in the natural world.
As Christians we bear the label of Christ - the essence of God Himself - and as such we should bear His characteristics or fruit evidenced by His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. In practice therefore, we should live out the reality of this fruit of His spirit and as Jesus said " by their fruit you will recognise them"
We know that fruit takes time to develop. You don't get apples a month after planting a tree, or in our case, blossom in the early stages of the life of the tree. We have to work in partnership with God to develop the fruit of his spirit and that involves us being aware of areas in our lives that need attention. You may notice that the scripture refers to fruit in the singular, not fruits in the plural. We can't pick and choose from the list as if we were in a green grocer's shop. Neither is it optional. If we are disciples of Christ our lives must show clearly that we bear His likeness- his fruit. We may not all develop at the same pace, we each have our own season, but ultimately we must become what it says on the label.
Finally, you may like to reflect on the following prayer adapted from one written by the Christian writer, Stormie Omartian.
One such purchase was a small hawthorn tree bearing the label 'Double Red Hawthorn- produces a profusion of scarlet flowers in clusters during late spring'. As the first spring season arrived we watched and waited with baited breath for the promised profusion of double scarlet flowers to appear. Spring came and went but no flowers to be seen. We gave it the benefit of the doubt believing that it possibly needed time to settle in and establish itself. Perhaps next year it would perform. Next spring came and went but still no flowers.
This year, having still not witnessed a single bloom, let alone a profusion of double blooms, we began to wonder does the label fit the tree or the tree fit the label? Have we been duped? Then, almost as though it had been listening to our moans, the tree capitulated and gradually it started to produce its blooms. I'd like to say we were at last rewarded for our patience but actually, we had been anything but patient but were rewarded anyway. Yet another lesson from nature.
As we are reminded in Ecclesiastes 3 everything has its season and this is as true in the spiritual realm as it is in the natural world.
As Christians we bear the label of Christ - the essence of God Himself - and as such we should bear His characteristics or fruit evidenced by His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. In practice therefore, we should live out the reality of this fruit of His spirit and as Jesus said " by their fruit you will recognise them"
We know that fruit takes time to develop. You don't get apples a month after planting a tree, or in our case, blossom in the early stages of the life of the tree. We have to work in partnership with God to develop the fruit of his spirit and that involves us being aware of areas in our lives that need attention. You may notice that the scripture refers to fruit in the singular, not fruits in the plural. We can't pick and choose from the list as if we were in a green grocer's shop. Neither is it optional. If we are disciples of Christ our lives must show clearly that we bear His likeness- his fruit. We may not all develop at the same pace, we each have our own season, but ultimately we must become what it says on the label.
Finally, you may like to reflect on the following prayer adapted from one written by the Christian writer, Stormie Omartian.
Father, plant the fruit of your spirit in me and cause me to flourish.
Fill me with your love so that it will flow out of me into the lives of others.
Help me to pursue the things that make for peace.
Give me the joy that knowing you produces.
Make me patient with others,
help me to be kind whenever opportunity presents itself and may your goodness flow through me.
Make me to be a faithful person so that I can be trusted in all things.
Help me to reflect your meek and gentle spirit and enable me to be self controlled in my thoughts, words and habits.
May I be like a tree planted by the rivers of your living water so that I will bring forth fruit in season.
I ask that the fruit of your spirit will grow in me and be recognised clearly by all who see me so that you may be glorified.
Amen.
Fill me with your love so that it will flow out of me into the lives of others.
Help me to pursue the things that make for peace.
Give me the joy that knowing you produces.
Make me patient with others,
help me to be kind whenever opportunity presents itself and may your goodness flow through me.
Make me to be a faithful person so that I can be trusted in all things.
Help me to reflect your meek and gentle spirit and enable me to be self controlled in my thoughts, words and habits.
May I be like a tree planted by the rivers of your living water so that I will bring forth fruit in season.
I ask that the fruit of your spirit will grow in me and be recognised clearly by all who see me so that you may be glorified.
Amen.