Tonight's Word 🌱

 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."
-Galatians 5:22-23

Welcome to Mango Season! Mango trees that were once flowering, now are delivering on their promises, bearing mangoes plentifully. Tree owners cannot keep up, persons selling mangoes are capitalizing on the season, and even the birds and the animals are guaranteed a good meal from the many mangoes high up in the trees. It's mango season where I am. Is it by you too?

According to research, this fruit originated in Asia, and has even been declared the national fruit of India. There are also over 500 varieties of mango. This means, that no matter how selective we might be, there just might be one variety that can suit our taste. There must be more to this fruit than only what meets the eye.

🥭 3 Lessons I 'picked' from a Mango Tree 🥭

🌳Every good mango comes from a good tree. Did you know that some mango trees can live and bear for over 300 years? Mango trees also have deep roots, the main root going down as far as 20 ft in deep soil, together with a vast network of secondary roots. Its leaves are also classified as evergreen. It would seem that the secret to the mango trees fruitfulness, sturdiness, and longevity has to do with its ability to be rooted deep into its life-giving source. The same applies for the believer. We are encouraged to stay grounded, rooted and connected to God through the Word. I am pretty excited at the idea that the tree described in Psalm 1:3 that we are called to aspire to be like, sounds very much like a mango tree : "That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers." 

A mango tree is faithful in its seasons. God is even more faithful to us, in all our seasons.

🥭🍇By their fruits, we shall know them. Oftentimes, we may be able to identify a mango tree by its leaves, and even when it flowers. However if we have never eaten from that tree before, we have to simply wait until it bears to be able to identify what type of mango it is. For many, that is the question to be able to determine if it is a variety they find delight in. For me, a Julie mango or a Starch mango would have me waiting patiently and in anticipation. For another, it may be a Long mango, or a Graham. It all boils back down to the concept of knowing a tree by its fruit. In Matthew 7:16-17, Jesus when warning about false prophets, says: "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit." 

For the believer in Christ, we are called to walk, and grow, and thrive in and through the Spirit of God. In fact, when we abide in the Spirit, the Word also identifies fruit of the spirit that we are expected to bear. Galatians 5:22-23 says "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." We as Christians, much like the mango tree, are able to bear a beautiful variety of principled fruit, fruit that reflect, honour and glorify our Creator and Lord. These are the fruit that one can identify in a believer who is thriving in the Spirit. These are the fruit that are meant to be a blessing to those we come in contact with. Let's cultivate good fruit by God's grace.

🌳Tree of Life. The concept of fruit trees ultimately reminds me of the Tree of Life. This was first mentioned in Genesis, as it was placed in the Garden of Eden for the life-giving benefit and enjoyment of Adam and Eve. It was God's will that we enjoy fruits, and we should continue to see fruits as a reflection of His love toward us. Unfortunately due to sin, humanity lost access to that tree as seen in Genesis 3: 21-24. The good news is, however, that this tree re-appears in John's vision of the earth made new in Revelation 22: 1-2 which says "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations." This beautiful image is indeed a promise, and one that all fruit lovers should take note of. I don't know about you but I yearn to enjoy the things that our loving and Eternal Father has prepared for us. How about you? 

Next time we see or enjoy a mango, let's reflect on the goodness, faithfulness and the promises of God.

Prayer:

Loving Father and Creator, we take this opportunity to thank You for the gift of fruit. From the very beginning, You created this earth in love, with us in mind. We appreciate the thought and detail You have put into fruits, for our enjoyment and sustenance. We ask Lord, that as believers, You make us fruitful also. Some fruits may come to us easier than others, but we know that You desire that we bear all fruit for Your glory. We submit ourselves to You, asking and allowing You to prune us, to nurture us and to grow us, according to Your divine will. We want to be true and beautiful reflections of Your character. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Do enjoy the following song. 🎧🙏🏼🙂

Great is Thy Faithfulness [Maranatha Singers]