Fruit Loops

Remember Tucan Sam – the bird with the rainbow beak – who flew around encouraging consumption of random colored rings of cereal goodness?! I loved that cereal when I was a kid! I would probably still like it but I try to eat the healthy, responsible, cereal now. Pretty boring… yeah, I know!

Well, today during my devotions, I was reading a passage from the Bible about how God wants us to produce FRUIT. And, as I read this, I envisioned this ‘ring’ (loop) all around me causing others to desire a better tasting life. I know, it sounds weird — but what IF our influence expanded beyond us a bit — and the fruit of our lives drew people closer to the truth of His word and depths of His love?? I would love this!! A big GOAL for sure!

Maybe IF you read what I read, it might help you see what I mean? Check it out:

“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad… For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. Matthew 12:33-36

I’ve been around some people who produce ‘poop loops’ NOT fruit loops – YUCK! I don’t care how hard they try to sugar-coat it and cleverly package it – it still tastes (and smells) ICKY! I want people to like what they taste when they’re around me. This doesn’t mean I should compromise and just tell them what they want to hear or do what they think is cool – NO WAY. But, as the love of Christ fills me on the inside, the fruit of the spirit starts being YUMMY on the outside. It’s not me, it’s God & He said, BE Fruity!

“taste and see that the Lord is good” Psalm 34:8

Now, before I wrap this little (weird) devotional up, I feel like I must mention the last sentence of this passage. It says that we’re going to have to give an account – right to the Lord – for EVERY idle word we’ve ever spoken. Every one! Gulp!

That means we’re not off the hook by adding a “just kidding” or “you’re too sensitive” to the stupid, careless or ridiculous things that ‘blah, blah, blah’ out of our mouths (or through our social media)! Learn to listen more, use discretion and CARE. You might even seem smarter in the process:

“Even fools seem to be wise if they keep quiet; if they don’t speak, they appear to understand” Psalms 17:28.

Praying that God would surround me (and you) with HIS fruitiness!

…wearin’ a rainbow beak,
Chilly