Like most mornings, I start the day with a little Joyce Meyers. Today she gave one of the best nuggets that I thought I would share. She said "too many people are bearing leaves and no fruit" That thing completely woke me up at 6:15AM. I wanted to hear more.
She went on to say that many of us pick the fruit to soon. God is trying to ripen us for service and like grocery stores - we pick it, package it and try to sell it before it's ready to be eaten and enjoyed. It looks good on the outside but, when you peal back the skin of the fruit - it's dry, mealy, hard, and tasteless. The way we look on the outside, is the way we should be in our homes.
Now this is my own commentary on the matter. I do agree with her. Before my family became members of our church, we weren't sure what to think about the people. We thought that they were putting on an act and that no church can maintain this look for long. We were so wrong.
The way you see the people serve, volunteer and represent God first and then the church, is the way they are when you see them on the streets. We have had the pleasure of becoming good friends with a few of the members, and I have to say - they are some of the best people we know.
Like the three bananas that Joyce had (all at different stages of being ripened) you can see how it was a great comparison to people. Who wants to be around anyone who is hard, dry, and tasteless like a dark green banana. Nobody can say anything good about you because your skin is so thick and you aren't trying to let anyone see what's really there.
Then you have the banana that is starting to turn yellow with green edges. It sat in the sun a bit longer and has gone through the heat, but it's not quite ready to be eaten. The problem with this person is that they go to church and seem to be ready to do the work of the ministry. They haven't been trained, they have the heart attitude but not the level of commitment/maturity needed to the best job for the task at hand. They look good, and are picked to soon. They allow you to pull back the skins, but it takes work. They allow you to see what they want you to see. They are up and down, hit or miss, moody, seem soft - but is really hard.
Then you have the perfect banana - nice and yellow. Tastes sweet, easy to peel. This is the person who has gone through some things. They don't allow themselves to be picked for things they know they aren't ready for. They have a great work ethic even though they volunteer. They know they aren't getting paid, but they perform their work as though they are being paid. They allow people to see their hearts, hurts and triumphs. They stayed on the tree longer than most. They know that their life source - the tree - didn't want them to go and be tasteless, hard and thick skinned. Instead, the tree wanted to let go when person was enjoyable to be around, that had a good Word all the time, didn't complain, was a source of encouragement to others.
Yeah, all of that from a piece of fruit. The Word of God does tell us that "they will know you by the fruit you bear" Now, I am not saying to go out and tell people that they aren't ready to do a work for the Lord. Just look at the fruit they bear. You can be a fruit inspector. Just remember - if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks life a duck - AFLAC!!!!!. That can go both ways, ripened and rotten fruit.
Do you want people to look at you and say "taste and see that the Lord is good" or "I will spit you out because I know you not" There is some strange fruit around here passing itself off as something good. Trust me, it's all wax fruit. Be careful that your teeth don't get stuck in it.
So many people want to be used by God, and that's a good thing. Please sit still and let Him ripen you first. You will be tempted to break free from the tree, but there is nourishment in that tree that you need. The tree will let you go when you are perfectly made. Yes, bruised fruit can still be used and makes some of the best people to be used.
You don't throw out bruised apples, you make cider. You don't throw out brown bananas, you make banana pudding. You don't throw out bruised peaches, you make preserves or cobbler. You don't throw out bruised people - they make great testimonies. God will ripen anyone who wants to be made whole. Don't give up on the fruit that was picked to soon. You might have to put them in the window so they go from green to glorious. Let it ripen.
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