Sometimes you have those moments where you know why Jesus tells us to be like little children…
My 7 year old daughter Karis came home with a lesson she had learned in Bible from her 1st grade classroom. Earlier that day, I had been asked to fill in to lead the Senior Blessing with our Class of 2021 girls…at that moment, the light switched flipped.
Instead of “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” (or 1st grade)–why not “Lessons from the Fruit Basket.”
If you have a senior or know of a senior, maybe this advice is one you can pass on. Actually, these are lessons all of us should remember and practice whatever our age. Below is a little of what was shared that day.
A Banana
**Karis taught this**
Our first fruit that we are going to look at is a banana. (Let girls answer)
What do you see on the outside?
(Let girls answer)
Now peel it. What do you see on the inside? Any mushy or brown spots?
(Let girls answer)
Sometimes you can look at a banana and think it looks perfect on the outside. Instead it is mushy and yucky.
What matters to God is not what is on the outside. He cares about your heart on the inside. He does not want your heart to be mushy and yuck. He wants it to be a heart for Him.
If it is dark and yuck, you can change that. Give your life to Him. Mushy bananas can be made into yummy banana bread with chocolate chips.
The world puts so much pressure on the “outside” clothes. Your looks. Money. Power. God wants something much valuable to Him. He wants your heart. In a time where Israel was to appoint the next king in 1 Samuel 16, God told Samuel the prophet to look for something different. It wasn’t the stature or the height of the man like you would think. God was not worried about the outward appearance. Instead, it was the heart of the next king.
The condition of our heart says everything about us. Do you LOVE Him will all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your soul? What would your heart reflect about you right now? Would that be darkness or light?
The BEST AND MOST important decision you will ever make in your lifetime is giving Him your complete heart. He doesn’t want half or part. He wants it All. But Why not give it to Him? He has your best interest on His heart. He fulfills all promises. He is the CREATOR. He knit you together. He loves you more than anyone here on Earth could possibly dream of doing (and I am a parent–as much as I love Jackson, Mason, and Karis–He loves them more).
Give Your heart to Him.
And then protect it…Orange
Have you ever experienced the orange armor lesson? If you place an orange in water, it will float. When you take the peel off though, it will sink.
His armor will protect your heart.
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. (Ephesians 6:10-18)
His LOVE will never fail you. He wins and the enemy will always be defeated. You have to put on His armor so you can withstand that enemy.
Along with giving Him your heart and putting on His armor gives you the opportunity to be a part of the BEST circle you can be a part of here on earth…His army.
When we become a part of HIS army, we become a part of His church. A group of people designed to journey here on earth despite our citizenship being elsewhere. A group of people designed to rejoice with us when it is time to rejoice and weep alongside someone in pain and agony. A group of people designed to hold us accountable and lead us to light—encouraging us to fulfill each of our individual purposes. Like a pomegranate—A pomegranate is said to have around 613 seeds (I haven’t counted them). Each seed within it actually makes up the ONE FRUIT. Even though one of our seeds makes one fruit, one seed sowed can change the world.
Many of us struggle with knowing our purpose. But each of us have been tasked with one—
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-18
Be the seed that changes others lives and points them to Jesus.
All of this—your heart with the lesson we learned from the banana, your protection which we learned from an orange, fulfilling your purpose which we learned from a pomegranate, to the last piece of fruit and lesson–Grapes.
Grapes grow on a vine–and Jesus uses that example when speaking in John 15:5-6. Here are HIS words–Red words.
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Strong words—but the BEST blessing we can get.
A blessing that led us from the separation bestowed upon us in the Garden after eating the forbidden fruit, to the seed and promises given to Abraham, to the gift of His Son to us–blood shed on the cross–and blood that covers us and cleanses us so that we can have eternal life with Him.
A pure heart–That is what really matters. Be a WOMAN after God’s own heart.
Protect it with the Armor of God.
Live out your Purpose as ONE of His army pointing others to Jesus…
ALL while ABIDING in Him. Your branch (or journey) will ONLY thrive when it is attached to Him. Your life will be BLESSED by Him as your anchor.
Go do big things for Him class of 2021.
