[Faith-talk] FW: [FriendshipCenter] Still Standing

[Eric Calhoun]

Original Message: 
From: "Kliphton" <kliphton at gmail.com>
To: "Kliphton" <kliphton at gmail.com>
Subject: [FriendshipCenter] Still Standing
Date: 
Sat, 31 Mar 2012 07:50:29 -0500

He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who cares for his
master will be honored.
Proverbs 27:18
                    
We see a lot of advertising slogans today. Companies are always looking
for newer, snazzier ways to position their products and services. But one
positive feature that can never be dreamed up in a brainstorming session is
a statement such as "Serving You for More than 50 Years" or "Celebrating 75
Years of Excellence." 
                    
Statements like these can't be bought from an ad agency. They can only be
earned over time. 
                    
The same thing holds true in your life as a Christian. Even though all of
God's promises were yours from the beginning of your walk with Christ, the
awesome experience of bearing fruit over a lifetime can only be seen
through the lens of many years. And when those years have been fully
invested in the Lord rather than routinely squandered on foolish
alternatives, the return is sure to be bountiful beyond measure. 
                    
Today's verse from Proverbs is a good reminder of this truth. Solomon was
saying that our years of faithfulness will be rewarded. An orchard that is
faithfully tended for many years will enjoy a much more productive yield
than a new one. The more it matures, the more fruitful it becomes.
                    
If you're still fairly young, I hope you realize that your choices now do
matter. If you're not quite so young anymore, don't rest on the past. Keep
growing a life whose fruit bears the seeds of eternity and reflects the
greatness of the Gardener. Every year in His orchard is another opportunity
to be used by Him in achieving His purposes in this generation. 
                    
Perhaps the "slogan" you can hope to hear on that day when you stand
accountable to Him in eternity is "Well done, good and faithful servant.
Enter into the joy of your Master" (see Matthew 25:21). 
                    
Discuss
What evidences of Christ's character in your life today were simply not
true of you 5 or 10 years ago?
                    
Pray
Ask that you will run the race that He has set before you and that you
will run well, side by side, all the way to the finish line. Pray that you
will finish strong!

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