Fresh Fruit: Seeking Jesus for His Goodness

Fresh fruit is a staple in my household. My son especially loves it! But, one thing this Mama has a hard time with is how quickly fruit rots. I buy so many varieties that by the time we have tried a bit of all, we find rotting has begun with the remainder.

Take a carton of strawberries, for example. Once one has molded, the strawberries that surround it begin to mold as well. Interestingly enough, the opposite side of the strawberry that is touching the non-moldy ones still appears in good condition.

However, it is said that once the mold has begun they are no longer safe to eat and must be thrown out. Even if half of it still appears good, the whole is not considered good to eat.

I pondered the implication of this imagery with the condition of my heart. Imagine, if my heart touches the heart of the world that’s full of sin, I, too, reflect that sin nature.

As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”- Romans 3:10-12 (NKJV) [emphasis mine]

But, if my heart touches the heart of God, then I’m healthy, full of goodness, and safe.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.- John 15:5 (NLT) [emphasis mine]

On my own I am merely self-righteous or an appearance of good. But given time, one may see the true reflection of a heart that touches a world full of sin is no different.

However, a heart that touches the heart of God produces the fruit of ‘goodness’ by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). And what does this goodness look like? It’s definition says this: uprightness of heart and life.

Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.- Psalms 25:8 (NKJV)

Though, imagine it’s said that, I, too, must be thrown out if my heart has started to decay from touching a world of sin.

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.- John 15:6 (NKJV)

It’s a stark realization. But living for Christ is a wholehearted commitment. It is daily dying to self and surrendering both heart and life to His righteousness.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.- 1 John 1:9 (NKJV)

Thank God for His mercy and His grace to accept us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!- Romans 5:17 (NIV)

A life found in Christ is certainly like finding and consuming the freshest fruit. May we continually seek Him and touch hearts with His. For in Him is true goodness— uprightness of heart and life!

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Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.- Matthew 7:17‭-‬20 (NIV)

 

Casting Oneself in Love and Casting Out Fears

The winter blues has me missing warmer weather and the outdoor activities that accompany it. One of my favorite summer pastimes is a family fishing day. Our family of four would regularly pack up to spend a few hours at our local reservoir.

My husband and son would identity their best spot and set up their fishing rods. My daughter and I would locate the nearest bench and watch from uphill. Both enjoying the scenery and supporting their efforts from slightly afar.

My husband spent countless times showing our son how to cast the fishing line. At times, he modeled it using his own pole. Other times, he cast our sons line for him. And the rest of the times, our independent toddler opted to cast the line himself. Often, getting it caught in the weeds on the bank.

I can’t say that much fishing was truly had. As a spectator, it both tickled and frustrated me to witness. I often wanted to take the matter into my own hands. But I now understand that the learning experience for our son was a integral part of becoming skillful for later on in life.

I see how I relate to my toddler in a spiritual sense. I want to be so independent and say, “I’ve seen this done before, I can handle this.” Then, I cast all my efforts into my circumstances. And most often, it results in me getting tangled up in life’s weeds. Any spectator would be both tickled or frustrated to watch my efforts.

Nearly every time this entanglement happens, I become all too fearful. Look at the mess I’ve made. Can you help me out, Lord? Where are you? And yet He’s right there with me. Just as my husband is close by our son’s side. Waiting patiently and ready to help.

The Holy Spirit reminds me; look at the model of Jesus and how He cast Himself in love to others- in life and in death. He is the greatest example and points us back to our perfect Father. 

[Jesus speaking] I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. (John 13:15 NLT) Since you are children of a perfect Father in heaven, you are to be perfect like him.” (Matthew 5:48 TPT)

And how can one be perfected like our heavenly Father? By becoming the image of Him, which is love.

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. (1 John 4:9-10, 16‭-‬17 NLT)

The Holy Spirit also reminds me what to do when I’ve gotten myself tangled up in fears; give it all over to the holy One. He is love. He is perfect. And He will cast your fearful circumstances far away from you. 

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.. (1 John 4:17‭-‬18 NKJV)

The combination of following Jesus’ modeled example, God’s perfect love, and casting away our fears can be interwoven in the following guideline: It is written. 

By casting my self in His love, I am to take His word and put it into practice. Whether in speech, in actions, in behaviors. Whether I think I have it all figured out, or I don’t. Whether I make the cast and get tangled up in life’s circumstances. I can trust that each experience is an integral part of becoming skillful for later in this life. But only because my heavenly Father is always and forever present. And His helpfulness to my efforts points to His goodness, greatness, and glory. 

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God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.- Psalms 46:1‭-‬3‭, ‬10‭-‬11 NLT

Growing Pains

My son is now a toddler. And on occasion, he experiences some restless nights. During this time, he might wake frequently with crying outbursts. This could be due to his body stretching some in length. Or, he may be encountering the last of his baby teeth cutting through his gums. It is no wonder, as his little body is enduring some growing pains. The good news is there are remedies to relieve him of these pains!

While currently pregnant, I, too, have endured some growing pains of my own. As my belly gets bigger, other body parts tend to ache more quickly than they once did. While driving, if I sit up too erect then my stomach begins cramping. I have to recline my seat back in order to relieve pressure. My feet become sore easily from standing too long, which can be easily rectified by taking breaks to sit. If I sleep on my back at night, it begins to hurt from the weight of my growing baby. I can find comfort from the full-length body pillows that support my back!

Well.. It should come as no surprise to me that when I grow spiritually I also may endure some pains. As my spirit man grows, myself (flesh) has to diminish. I am coming to understand that living by the Spirit is giving Him control and allowing myself to relinquish control. He must become greater; I must become less.- John 3:30 (NIV).

Living for my flesh is for selfish gain. For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us..- Romans 7:5(NIV). Selfishness is in direct opposition to what God’s Word commands. And if I continue to live by my flesh, then I am not in full accordance with the Spirit of God. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh..- Galatians 5:17 (NIV). 

I am instructed to crucify the desires of my flesh. Indeed, with this comes pain. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.- Galatians 5:24 (NIV). In this context, this is a metaphor that suggests this: “to crucify the flesh, destroy its power utterly (the nature of the figure implying that the destruction is attended with intense pain)”. [Reference Here]

The good news is there is a remedy to relieve me of these pains! I can walk in freedom knowing that my selfish, sinful flesh was already crucified by the sacrifice of Jesus dying on the cross. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.- Galatians 2:20 (NIV).

Once my mind is transformed to receive this truth, I can truly live in full accordance with the Spirit of God! But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.- Romans 7:6 (NIV).

It’s true, through my previous pain I can experience a transforming growth. A growth that produces much fruit. Though, not by myself but by the Spirit who lives in me. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!- Galatians 5:22&23 (NLT). For by relinquishing my control I acknowledge that it is by God I live and move and have my being (Acts 17:28). 

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“So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. ..Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.”- Hebrews 6:1&12 (NLT)

Surrendering My Control

Due to circumstances throughout my childhood, I suffered through years of feeling broken and damaged. Because of this, I was very vulnerable to more pain. I didn’t much care for the feeling of helplessness caused by the magnitude of my external circumstances. So, I decided when I turned 18 years old that no one would be able to control me from that day forward.

Since I grew up bound by tough restrictions, I rarely got to experience many worldly things. Despite this fact, what I had experienced through my pain was all I needed to know. There wouldn’t be one thing that would change my mind in owning control. Not even a conversation with my much older, knowledgeable and wiser self.

So, I began my new chapter of owning control. However, this was only portrayed by my external self. Internally, I was full of pride. I determined that people would either love me or hate me. If they chose the latter, then I would show them the exit door from my life.

Due to this change, I began to build walls around my heart. In an attempt to be less vulnerable, I resolved to let very few people get to know who I really was. In doing so, I allowed my external self to be more vulnerable to a world of dangers- caused by drinking and night stays with strangers. Trying to take control of my external circumstances caused my brokenness and damage to be much worse than before.

At the core of my being I was indeed helpless. The deeper root of these pains were caused by something I had not yet come to realize. The truth: I felt rejected by a dad that just couldn’t fulfill his roll of being a father. That rejection fueled my search for attention in all the wrong places. It created a longing for a false love. It desired for approval from others.

Fast forward in time to nearly a decade later, I began my search to get back to God’s heart. I studied what it truly meant to be set apart from the world and to live for Him. I asked God for deeper knowledge and understanding from His Word, which is THE Truth. Here is what I learned:

• To let go of control and surrender all of my past to the One who created me. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.- James 4:7 (NIV)
• When I accepted Jesus into my heart and asked to be made anew by the blood of His sacrifice, my old self died! I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.- Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
• I’m not the sum of that younger version of myself. No longer do I have to live under the scrutiny of shame, regret and condemnation. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.- Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)
• I can walk in freedom, because Christ was my ransom, and He paid in full my atonement when He died on the cross. But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.- Galatians 3:22 (NLT) 
• God can make good from any painful situation. I now understand that He can create purpose through my past rejection. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’- Acts 4:11 (NLT)

This whole process of learning to surrender my control can be summed up in one picture. I imagine myself as clay and God as my Potter. Untouched clay appears to be a heaping mess. If I, the clay, attempt to control my external circumstances, I would still be a heaping mess, and then some! Oh, but to give up control to the hands of my Potter- He is continually regulating those external circumstances. He has shaved off that mess of who I once was and made me a new creation.

In Christ, my new creation is a self that is righteous, blameless, and holy. The only thing that is required for me to control?!.. simply believing in my Creator.

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“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’ … This is what the Lord says— the Holy One of Israel and your Creator: “Do you question what I do for my children? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands? I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it.”- Isaiah 45:9-10, 12 (NLT)