No Other Rock

Behold, a basket of Summer fruit. ~ Amos 8:1

My soul desired the firstripe fruit. ~ Micah 7:1

Note: This devotion is from September 14-17

Let’s expand upon the idea of spiritual fruit and ripeness.

As you might know or recall, I like to garden. It is not only something I enjoy, but something I feel compelled to do. During the summer, I eagerly await the first basket of ripe fruit to carry inside and enjoy with my family.

Consider that basket of ripe fruit. What a wonderful emblem of the Gospel. It is beautiful, like the influences of the Gospel. The fruit is bountiful, like the blessings of the Gospel. It is attractive, just like the invitations of the Gospel. It is healthful, like the doctrines. And it is perishable . . . just like the opportunities of the Gospel.

But now, as we indulge into the Autumn season, let us further think about those firstripe fruits. They are beautiful to the eye. Yet, in the early summer as the fruits first form, they’re boring and plain. It is not until they ripen that they become aesthetically pleasing to the eye. If there is spiritual ripeness about you and I there will be a beauty of character and demeanor. There will be what Scripture calls “the beauty of holiness.”

In addition, those firstripe fruits are sweet to the taste, delightful in fragrance, tender to the touch and hangs downwards. We should cling about us what Paul calls a “sweet savour of Christ.” We should seek to relieve ourselves of the bitter taste and pungent odor we leave as unripe Christians. We should seek the spiritual ripeness of tenderness, sympathy, ease of approach, and leave behind our hardened natures.

And finally, just as a ripened fruit will hang its head low, we too should always bow our heads in worship.

Today, I pray that you and I will seek a nurturing soil and receive the ministries of nature to become spiritually ripened. Let us also be on guard against blight and pest.