Harvest Time

"Pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have 

laid up for thee, O my beloved..."

 Song of Solomon 

7:13

Autumnal Season of Fruit

This is my favorite time of year. I love how the hot air suddenly turns cooler! I love to start my flower garden and smell the fresh soil. I love how the dirt feels in my fingers. I love seeing the fruits of my labor.

Charles Spurgeon wrote about giving all our fruit to the Lord, our Beloved, for his October 1st post in the book Morning by Morning. 

He reminded believers to enjoy the new fruits, but to also remember the old fruits:

• The times when Jesus was there at our sick bed.
• The times when Jesus was there during the joyful moments.
• The times he held us up when the waters rose all around us.

He reminded us to never forget these old fruits..the times when Jesus remembered us.

Follow Me

So what does it mean to be a follower of such a faithful Savior?

Our pastor spoke on Sunday about the passage in Luke 9:23

"And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

The amplified Bible shows this verse as follows:

"If anyone person wills to come after Jesus, let him deny himself (disown, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself), take up his cross daily and follow (cleave steadfastly to, conform wholly to Jesus' example in living and, if need be, in dying) Jesus."

Wow!

Makes a difference when you read the total meaning of the Greek words from many lexicons doesn't it?

You get a clearer picture of exactly what Jesus was really saying to His followers: 

"Do as I do..."

To Follow

Charles Spurgeon reminded us that all we have belongs to Our Beloved. 

He has been faithfully with us through the good and bad times, so all that we have should go at His feet. 

Then, Jesus Himself reminded us that if we truly want to be called His Disciple, we not only must give everything we have...but cleave to Him and conform to His example. 

This may sound impossible...and without the Holy Spirit it is.

The Fruit

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Galations 5:22-23

It is the Spirit that gives us the ability to give everything to Jesus. It is the Spirit that gives us the ability to follow after Him. 

And oh how He deserves all that we have to give!

The Harvest

"We have fruits this morning, both new and old; but here is the point...they are all laid up for Jesus."  -Charles Spurgeon

This harvest season, take time to remember to give the Lord, your Beloved, all the fruit:

New fruit and Old fruit

Lay all your gifts and treasures up to Him because He alone is worthy of all that we have to give. 

Display them clearly for all to see! 

Then, stand back and watch The Gardener guard the gate that no one should rob what you have! He is faithful! 

Now be faithful to Him. 

Your turn:  How do you celebrate the autumnal season? 

Spurgeon, C. (2005). Morning by morning. Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour Publishing.

Blessings,

Ruth