SWEET or SOUR? A fragrant perfume?

A farmer invited a friend into his apple orchard to taste the fruit and make some fresh apple cider. But the friend gently refused. After he also refused another invitation, the farmer said, “I guess you must be prejudiced against my apples”

The friend replied, “Well, to tell you the truth, I have tasted them, but I found them very sour”

The farmer asked which apples he had eaten and was told the ones that fell over the fence.

“Ah yes. They ARE sour. I planted those to fool the boys who live around here. However, if you come inside a few rows, you will find a difference.”

On the edges of Christianity we will find some “sour apples” . . . .

There are many people who for a variety of reasons, live on the edge of Christianity, calling themselves Christian, but having no relationship with Jesus Christ. Many of these are ‘good living’ people, but sadly there are also many who are “sour” and give Christianity a bad taste and a bad name.

There are also some who have trusted Christ but live on the edge,
having no sound teaching, not receiving spiritual food from the Word of God,
not knowing His very real presence through prayer
and not fellowshipping with brothers and sisters in Christ
in a Bible teaching Church.

2 Peter 3:18
But grow in grace
and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:16 NLT
Let the Word of Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.

2 Timothy 3:16 CEV
Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word.
All of it is useful for teaching and helping people
and for correcting them and SHOWING THEM HOW TO LIVE.
The Scriptures train God’s servants to do all kinds of good deeds.

In the centre, however, are delicious fruits, sweet and desirable.
Since Christ is the Head of His Church, He is central,
and it is true that the closer we are to God, the sweeter will be the fruit.
When we depend on Him and He controls our life,
His light, love, peace and joy will FLOW THROUGH US to all we encounter.

2 Corinthians 2:15 CEV
God thinks of us as
A PERFUME THAT
BRINGS CHRIST TO EVERYONE.
For people who are being saved,
this perfume has a sweet smell
and leads them to a better life.

Questions for every blood-bought, adopted child of the living God

Am I a perfume that brings Christ
to everyone I encounter?

Or do I need to move to the ‘centre’
closer to the heart of God?

What practical steps can I determine,
with God’s enabling, to achieve this?

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