BE AN ORANGE
Galatians 5:22-23 (22) – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (NIV)
A professor took an orange to the classroom and asked a brilliant student this question: “If I squeeze this orange, what will I get?”. The boy looked at him and answered, “Juice, of course!”. The professor said, “Don’t you think I could get pineapple or apple juice from it?”. The boy laughingly said, “Impossible”. Then, the professor asked, “Why would I get orange juice from an orange?”. The student answered, “Well, it is an orange, and that is what it has on the inside”.
The professor nodded and said, “That’s right! Let’s think that this is not orange, but it is you; if someone pressurises you and says things that you don’t like. You get offended to the extent that anger, bitterness, hatred, and fear come out of you. Why did this happen?”. The boy answered, “Because those things are on the inside”. Now, let’s consider what is inside of you and me:
Matthew 15:18 says, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man”. Jesus got squeezed (beaten), insulted, humiliated, and treated worse than a criminal; yet, forgiveness, love, and mercy came out of Him (Matthew 6:14-15). Similarly, as seen in our Bible reading, we must be filled with the fruits of the Spirit wherein, with love, we can pardon and encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Let’s always ask ourselves: “What comes out when I get squeezed?”. Peradventure, you need to repent or rededicate your life to God; do it now, for Christ died purposely to redeem you (Isaiah 1:18).
PRAYER
Hymn: Are You Washed in the Blood? (Elisha A. Hoffman (1878)
1. Lord, please give me a heart like Yours to please You always.
(MIDNIGHT PRAYER)
1. Father, shine Your light on the dark spots of my life.
2. Father, I am tired of rising and falling. Please, help me to stand firm in Your word.
3. My prayer life, businesses, career, family and the church, receive divine turnaround!
CONGRATULATIONS!