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 trees 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, cups of coffee and roasting from the oven, which sat mostly dormant during the hot summer months. The Creator of seasons is in control. He gives us what’s next. That might be tough to think of, especially when every week is a new turn. But the truth is God is in control.

 

We read in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible that God is 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

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

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 from God should be reason enough to be kind to others. God sent His Son as 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, even knowing not everyone would choose to believe.

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 his commands. I must deny myself, pick up my cross and follow. Denying one’s self involves sacrifice.

 

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 the welcoming heart producing fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Pray 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 in a trying year like this one. Pray that your children maintain even-keel self-control through their troubled times. God knows what we need. Will we ask? Will we keep asking? Will we wait on the Lord? Will we rely on prayer 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

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.

Titus 3:4

On the woodland trail, there is a wild apple orchard where fallen apples are crushed under foot. The smell permeates the air. May the fragrance you love be the same God loves. Pray to sustain a faithful life that demonstrates kindness.