Bearing Fruit
by Marianne Schultz, Deacon
The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy. (Psalm 126:3 NIV)
I am inspired by God's gifts of food and wine. September to December is pomegranate season and I am obsessed by this fruit. The "Cookbook of Foods from Bible Days" by Jean and Frank McKibben led me to focus my sharing some history and uses of this beautiful fruit.
Did you know the pomegranate is mentioned 25 times in the Old Testament?
The Moors introduced to Spain a method of tanning leather with pomegranates, which made Cordova famous for its leatherwork.
In the Bible it was known as a cooling drink and the basis for spiced wine.
The first sherbet was most likely pomegranate juice mixed with fresh snow.
Longevity is legendary for the pomegranate tree. Some specimens over 200 years old have been known to bear fruit.
Pomegranates in Christian art are powerful symbols representing plentitude, hope, spiritual faithfulness, and chastity.
Pomegranates are rich in antioxidants, vitamin K, and potassium.
The seeds of the pomegranate (known as arils) number in the hundreds. As I have been extracting the delicious seeds from the fruits, many things come to mind. I see the ruby jewels that the seeds are, so very beautiful in color and flavor. I think of these seeds as my many blessings, the giants I have faced, prayers to be shared for others, opportunities I have to do the work of God in our community, and within the First Prez ʻohana. How thankful I am to be able to share His love, whether itʻs by sending a card to someone, Pet Loss counseling, or serving on the Hospitality team, for example. I become mesmerized as the seeds fill the bowl, knowing the goodness there.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
What are seeds that others have sown in your life that have grown to produce fruit? What seeds are you sowing today?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, in this season of prayer and fasting, let us not only give something up to spend more time with you, let us think of how we can share the fruit of the Spirit with others near and far. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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