Lemon Essence

Sometimes lemons get a bad reputation. We refer to them when talking about a car that is hopelessly in need of repair. Sometimes a person that looks crabby is thought to have just ingested lemon juice. But there are many delicious foods that come from lemons. What is a favorite of yours? Hold that thought. We will talk more about lemons later, but consider this:

Would it surprise you to hear that God says He has given us everything we need for life as His followers? That may cause you some doubt because there may be times when you don’t feel so godly. For example, which of the following growth areas gives you the most “growing pains?” as you seek to live out a life pleasing to God?

• Career growth
• Spiritual growth
• Growth in relationships
• Growth in family relationships
• Growth in friendships
• Growth in “wisdom”

The apostle Peter writes about the importance of growing in our faith (2 Peter 1:3-11). He assures us that God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life that is God-pleasing. It is God that has given us this and called us to it. He says His gift to us is of “highest value”. Through His gift of grace and forgiveness through Christ, we are His children, followers, and representatives.

God doesn’t want us to stay static and bask in this beautiful new identity. Just as a parent desires to see their children grow and mature, so does God desire that of us. He gives us this challenge: “Make every effort to add integrity to your faith; and to integrity add knowledge; to knowledge add self-control; to self-control add endurance; to endurance add godliness; to godliness add Christian affection; and to Christian affection add love (2 Peter 1:5-7).” As we trust completely in what God has already done for us, we step out to grow in our faith and let it guide us in every aspect of our lives. Notice how one God-given quality builds on another.

How do we pursue these qualities? The Bible gives us this guidance:

LISTEN:  “For this reason we must pay closer attention to what we have heard. Then we won’t drift away from the truth.” Hebrews 2:1

READ GOD’S WORD: “Blessed is the one who reads, as well as those who hear the words of this prophecy and pay attention to what is written in it because the time is near.” Revelation 1:1-3

STUDY WHAT YOU READ:  Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God’s approval.” 2 Timothy 3:16

MEDITATE: ”Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3

LIVE IT: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it – not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do.” James 1:22-25

Now, back to the question at the top of this blog: The lemon is the basis of the what makes all of the foods you considered so delicious. It’s the common denominator that makes the food tasty and special. You can’t make a genuine lemon meringue pie without lemons. God, at work in our lives through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, is the basis for who we are and what we do.

Encouragement from Scripture:
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:16-21

Prayer:  Dear Lord, open me to the opportunities you set before me. Help me to witness in my words, in my actions, and in my thoughts. May You be glorified in all I do. In Jesus’ name, amen.