fruit of TRUTH

Ephesians 4:11 So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Recently, we bought 125 acres of land in Oklahoma to begin farming.  While we still live in Atlanta, getting back to our roots and learning to grow food is a vision we have for our future.  Many others just like us are being prompted to do the same.

While we are in transition I am reminded of a lesson from our current blackberry bushes here in Atlanta, Georgia.

Some of my blackberries are trellised in a very tidy area of my garden.  But others are sprawling everywhere on the ground and up the side of our chicken run.  

Neither are suffering.  While one plant looks well kept on the outside, the other plant looks messy.  The messy plant sends out runners that proliferate into new plants.  The tidy trellised vine is much more limited in its effects.

However, both are kissed by the sun, deluged in abundant water, well fed with good food, pruned to remove any dead weight and both thoroughly produce delicious, sweet berries.  Despite their outward appearance or their varying environment, what is true for both is that inside, they are nourished to maturity by the same elements.

Similar to our walk with Yehovah, we all look different.  We all have different backgrounds. We grow up and live in varying environments.  And we each have special talents and gifts uniquely created for us individually.  

However, all of us are taught by the same Creator from the same Word.  And all of us are expected to grow to maturity from that Word.  If the WORD is missing, it is like the missing elements that make a plant grow.  It won't matter where it's placed or how it's supported or what it grows next to.  Without the life-giving sun, food, and water, my blackberry bushes will not produce.  Without God's WORD, we will not be walking in truth to produce fruit of that truth.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.