There's nothing like fresh fruit in season! My favorites are apples, grapes and bananas. Of course, I also love tropical fruits like mango and there is NOTHING like a perfectly ripe slice of pineapple. When I eat right and cut down on my sugar intake fruit tastes even better! As a person who struggles to lose weight I see that God knew what He was doing when he created fruit; It's like His idea of candy! Well, unfortunately, we don't always eat what's good for us. As a matter of fact, fruit is unappetizing when we stuff ourselves with sugar and other unhealthy foods. The same is true spiritually! God has given us the perfect fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, & self-control. It is difficult to maintain and cultivate this fruit when we embrace the "rotten fruit" that the enemy entices us with. How can love abound in our lives when we embrace the rotten fruit of hatred? Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all wrongs. How can joy abound in our lives when we embrace the rotten fruit of anger and depression? Psalm 30:11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, How can peace abound in our lives when we embrace the rotten fruit of anxiety and fear? Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. How can patience abound in our lives when we embrace the rotten fruit of impatience? Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD. How can kindness abound in our hearts when we embrace the rotten fruit of unkindness? Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. How can goodness abound in our hearts and lives when we embrace the rotten fruit of evil? John 8:34-36 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. How can faithfulness abound in our lives when we embrace the rotten fruit of unfaithfulness? 1 Peter 5:10-11 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. How can gentleness abound in our lives when we embrace the rotten fruit of harshness? Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. How can self-control abound in our lives when we embrace the rotten fruit of lust? Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. God's fruit is so much better than the enemy's! Let's throw out the rotten fruit and feast on what He has so generously provided! Summary of verses: love vs. hatred
10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes; But love covereth all transgressions. joy vs. anger & depression 30:11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; Thou hast loosed my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; peace vs. anxiety & fear 41:10 Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. patience vs. impatience 27:14 Wait for Jehovah: Be strong, and let thy heart take courage; Yea, wait thou for Jehovah. Psalm 28 `A Psalm' of David. kindness vs. unkindness 3:12 Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; goodness vs. evil 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. 8:35 And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever. 8:36 If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. faithfulness vs. unfaithfulness 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you. 5:11 To him `be' the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. gentleness v. harshness 4:5 Let your gentle behaviour be clear to all men. The Lord is near. self-control vs. lust 4:15 For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as `we are, yet' without sin. 4:16 Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help `us' in time of need. |
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