Rotten Fruit

Yuck. That's what I think when I see bananas that look like this. They're mushy and their flavor and scent are too strong for me. They also tend to attract little flying gnats. I prefer bananas that still have a hint of green on the peel, are firm when you bite into them and taste fresh. Oh, and sans the bugs.

Do you think God ever looks at us and says to himself, "Yuck"? I believe so. I'm positive there are times when each of us look like (and smell like) this bunch of bananas...brown, bruised, mushy and only attractive to bugs. He would have every reason to cast us aside just as we may be tempted to throw these bananas in the trash (or compost bin).

Although, I do think of something else when I see these rotten bananas: banana bread. How yummy a fresh loaf of banana bread smells and tastes! It is filling and satisfying to one's appetite. And it thrills me that I can make something good out of bad fruit that may otherwise have just gone to waste! I've made something go from yuck to yum and am quite sure other people will want a slice.

I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this. When our lives are out of sorts and we're not in sync with God, we are rotting, stinky fruit. Thankfully for us, God shows us His grace and doesn't toss us away. First, He'll mash us up to get our attention, and then He'll begin adding fresh ingredients to our lives: some sweet sugar to make us more pleasing to the palate; a dash of salt to season us; some flour to make us stand firm in our faith; baking soda to help us rise up to do His work; and an egg and melted butter to keep us from drying out. In doing this, He has made us new and we have gone from yuck to yum. We are now something (someone) others will want. We are once again fragrant and delicious and pleasing to God. Our new selves are a testament to what God can do.

Are you feeling like rotten fruit today? If so, ask God to add some fresh ingredients to your life; to make you into something new and to help you go from yuck to yum.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. John 15:5-6

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:22