THE FRUIT OF THE TREE

It’s Autumn and the harvest time,
when the apple trees are bearing
sweet fruit that’s worth a mile-long hike,
and the afternoon for sharing.

We will know the apples that we seek
by the goodness they are yielding,
by the bounty they have rich in store,
and the fragrance all so pleasing.

But the trees that have no tasty fruit
and are pleasant not for eyeing,
offer branches that are mostly bare,
and some look as though they’re dying!

In the rosy light, we’ll choose the best,
and our baskets we’ll be filling;
the love of Jesus in our hearts
will, with grace, be over-spilling.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23

The Fruit of the Tree

Autumn is underway here in the woods with its distinct fragrances—apples, rain, cool mornings, frequent cups of coffee and tea and roasting from the oven, which sat mostly dormant during the hot summer months. God, the Creator of seasons, is in control. He gives us what’s next. That is kind of tough to think of, especially this year when every week is a new turn. But the truth is, God is in control. He has a time table and vegetation itself is a clock.

What fragrances do you love?
What fragrances does God love?
 
Then took Mary a pound of ointment
of spikenard, very costly,
and anointed the feet of Jesus,
and wiped his feet with her hair:
and the house was filled with the
odour of the ointment. 
John 12:3

Mary anointed Jesus before He went to the cross for us. We read in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible that God was pleased with the aroma of sacrifice.

And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Genesis 8: 20-22

And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD.
Leviticus 23:18

And in the New Testament:

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.
Ephesians 5:1-2

As I think on these verses, I’m reminded that the kindness extended to me should be reason enough to be kind to others. God sent His Son to be an offering for our sins. Being obedient unto death on the cross, Jesus made purification for our sins by laying down His life for us. He went, knowing not everyone would choose to believe. I must deny myself, pick up my cross and follow. Denying one’s self involves sacrifice. 

They that trust in their wealth,
and boast themselves in the multitude
of their riches; None of them can by
any means redeem his brother,
nor give to God a ransom for him:
(For the redemption of their soul is precious,
and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should
still live for ever, and not see corruption.
Psalm 49: 6-9

No payment is enough except that which was made by Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. The Lamb who was slain is the only one worthy to open the book and loose the seals in Revelation 5. It was John the Baptist who declared “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.
Matthew 3:8

As the season turns, we’re reminded that the Bible teaches us to turn. Turn around to Him who is tapping on the shoulder. Follow Jesus who loves us. Obey the command to love others.
 
And I gave her space to repent
of her fornication; and she repented not.
Revelation 2:21

Somehow, our Creator knows who repents and who doesn’t. A designer knows his design. Those who repent gain eternal life. The Holy Spirit enters into a welcoming heart producing fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Pray, then, for:

F   ragrant love.
R   idiculous joy.
A   bundant peace.
G   rand patience.
R   eal kindness.
A   luring goodness.
N   on-stop faithfulness.
C   ompassionate gentleness.
E   ven-keel self-control.

Ask that you would have these traits over-flowing like a basket of apples tipped over and spilled out. Pray that God would turn your hurt into ridiculous joy. Ask God to give abundant peace to your spouse who is heartsick over his family. Pray that God would bless your enemy through your real kindness to him. Ask God to help you have grand patience, even in a turbulent year like this one. Pray that your children maintain even-keel self-control through troubled times. God knows what we need. But, will we ask? Will we keep asking? Will we wait on the Lord only to soar on wings as eagles? Will we rely on prayer, that privilege to express our heart to the Heart Reader?

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:
for we know not what we should pray for
as we ought: but the Spirit itself 
maketh intercession for us with groanings 
which cannot be uttered.
And he that searcheth the hearts
knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,
because he maketh intercession for the saints
according to the will of God. 
Romans 8:26-27

and 
 
Even so every good tree 
bringeth forth good fruit;
but a corrupt tree
bringeth forth evil fruit.
Matthew 7:17

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Hebrews 11:13

On the woodland trail, there is a wild apple orchard where some fallen apples have been crushed under foot. The smell permeates the air. There will be a season for those who wait on the Lord to renew their strength. May the fragrance you love be the same God loves as you pray to sustain a faithful life through patience.