Preserving the Fruit

I want to apologize for the long silence.  My Sea of Glass site was hacked into, and rather than pass along Malware, I opted for "cleansing" from the techs.  I hope you enjoy tonight's lesson, called "Preserving the Fruit."

I have a garden and make jam, preserving it through the “water bath” method.  It’s a simple way of canning and we enjoy homemade jam on into the next year.

During World War I the US National War Garden Commission encouraged people to grow fruits and vegetables so that they would have food during hard times. This effort was successful, and so it was duplicated during World War II.  Women’s magazines published articles about how to can, store, dry, pickle, and freeze the bounty. People were encouraged to share their surplus with others in their neighborhood. Not only were fruits and vegetables grown, but they were preserved, and shared.

As Christians we may not have the time or space to garden, but we are supposed to “bear fruit.”

“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.  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (Jn 15:5-8).

God meant for us to bear fruit.  For me, I saw an example of this during a vacation with my husband for our 25^th anniversary.  I reflected on what a good man I was married to, and what good fruit our marriage had born.  You might think the story ends there, but as with each marriage, there are ups, and there are downs.  Not but a few days since we had been home from our vacation and I found fault with my husband for continuing to rest.  He had done many good things, yet I was fixed on what he was not currently doing.  Then clearly, I heard the Holy Spirit speak to my heart, “Helen, preserve the fruit.” Each time I thought to speak to my husband about what he was not doing, or make a suggestion for what he should be doing, I heard, “Preserve the fruit.”

Fresh fruit can be eaten in season, but we preserve our fruit for seasons that are lean.  And Christians have opportunity to bear fruit (seasons), and lack of opportunity (the off-season). We need preserved fruit for the off-season.

Off-seasons can be days when we are over-worked, or stressed.  They can be days when the finances are lean, or when there are no friendships to sustain us.  Whatever the season of lack may be, one thing we will need is preserved fruit; fruit from an abundant season in our live.

So, how do we preserve the good fruit we bear from a prior season? For me, it comes in moments of recognizing the good done by others, and especially by my husband.  Preserving may be a prayer of praise and thanksgiving, or giving words of encouragement.  There are many ways we preserve our fruit, and give it to others.

We all feel the lack when we aren’t bearing fruit.  Let’s take a moment to remember the fruit we have born.  God remembers and is not unjust; He rewards us for it . . . “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal 6:9; see also Heb 6:10). To preserve good fruit we refuse to label others with the bad fruit that destroys our relationships. This is part of “abiding” in Jesus.

Bring your good fruit into the dry, difficult times and let it be a blessing for yourself, and for those around you.  Amen.