John 15:5-6- I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

Romans 11:19-23 “You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”  Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble.  For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.  Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.  And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

Where I lived as a girl we had a tangerine tree that had some very small fruit.  We could count on it every year to be loaded with lots of fruit.  It knew that its purpose was to bear fruit and it fulfilled its destiny.  There was only one problem:  the tangerines were very sour.  Each bite of the fruit had your taste buds smarting.  So many times most of the tangerines were never picked as nobody wanted sour fruit to eat.  Then one day, we decided to try the fruit again, to my surprise the tangerines were sweet.  I could not believe that this was the same tree.  After that day, the tangerines were consistently sweet.     Looking back now, through adult eyes, maybe my father had grafted sweet tangerines into the sour tree to change its constitution. 

Are we living consistent lives that mirror Jesus?  Are we like the sour tangerine tree filled with fruit but no one wants to partake of our offerings?  Can people around us tell that we are Christians by our actions in the workplace, at school, at home, at play?  Are we consistent in our speech and actions?  How do we handle money when no one is looking?  Is our integrity in tact?  Are we willing to return the money if we got too much change or do we see in as extra blessing?  Are we just weekend Christians?  Are we taking God’s kindness for granted?

Even when no one else sees, God sees.   God is watching us and will judge us for all our speech and actions.  God has grafted us into his kingdom and expects us to demonstrate to the world that He lives in us, has changed our constitution from sour to sweet and that our value system is different than the world. Say no to the deceptive, twisted values of the world that are ingrained in us.  Let us root them out by the Spirit of Jesus, God himself. We can’t do it on our own just like the tree could not change on its own.      

Let us stop, reflect and examine ourselves and see what hidden areas of our lives we are living inconsistently. Jesus expects us to live lives that reflect his light into the darkest corners of this world.  The world would be a better place if we speak the truth to ourselves and be consistent in our speech and actions.  That is why we are here, so that others may see Jesus in us and glorify and turn to our Father in heaven.  Stand by faith and be counted.

PRAYER

Father God, I am so inconsistent.  I practice double standards and cheat and lie and twist things to suit my warped mind.  Forgive me where I have failed you, cleanse and renew a right spirit in me and renew my mind so that those who encounter me will encounter you. I depend on you now to help me.  Amen.