BLOSSOMS AND SUMMER FRUIT

Years before Disney World invaded Orlando, our family took a spring vacation to Florida. I will never forget the delicate smell of orange blossoms filtering through our van as we drove past miles of orchards. They appeared as beautiful flower gardens with nature's promise that soon summer fruit would appear.

Paul reminds us that "we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing" (2 Cor.2:15). One of the dangers during blossom time is the intrusion of blight. The promise of delicious fruit is painted in the delicate spring flowers. But sometimes a sudden frost, a strong east wind or some insect mars the blossoms that affect its fruit. Marred fruit is always second best!

In the parable of the vine and the branches, Jesus reveals the secret of good fruit: "no branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine" (John 15:4). Sap cannot flow through branches that are not connected and sin in the Christian will mar the quality of our testimony. The key to fruit bearing is daily communion with God through His Word, prayer and confession (I John 1:7-9). When the "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal.5:22-23), flows through our lives, "the aroma of Christ" will become evident as we bear "much fruit" (John 15:5,7). What kind of fruit are you bearing for Him? After all, your decision will affect your testimony and may be the one link to someone coming to Christ.
--B. Pent