Devotion:
Read Luke 6:43-45.
Jesus spoke of “figs and grapes”, but as a young child, I quickly translated the words to “peaches,muscadines and scuppernongs”---those were the fruits which I knew! There were peach orchards everywhere in my county and most folks had a muscadine or scuppernong vine in their backyard!
Once upon a time, I tried to grow an orange tree in our yard. It didn’t work. The soil and the climate were not right at all for an orange tree!
For this writing, I looked up what it takes to plant and grow a peach tree. The sentence, “Select a tree that has a healthy root system.” stood out to me. I believe this is what Jesus was trying to teach his disciples and to us for our lives today.
The good fruit of our lives comes from the good stored up in our hearts. The autumn season of harvest comes after much time spent during the other seasons to prepare the soil and make sure the root system has the healthy nutrients it needs to bear good and healthy fruit.
During all the seasons, we must remain faithful to what we are storing up in our hearts to bear healthy fruit in its season. Faithfulness includes reading the scriptures, time spent in prayer, in worship and service to others.
There is a beautiful grace-note in this passage. If you are a peach tree, produce peaches! Don’t try to produce oranges! This is an important lesson we learn as children, but sometimes we need to be reminded again.
Personal Worship Option:
Dear God continue to work in my life to give me a healthy root system (of the heart), and to help me to become the person You have created me to become. Help me to serve You in such a way that I am able to create the orchard You have called me to create! Amen
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