I was 43 years old when I got saved. The Lord had such a powerful impact on me that a few days later I stood at a glass door looking out as I asked the Lord if He wanted me to walk through the door and go into full time ministry. I had a definite impression that I should go back to work. That job became a spiritual training ground where others ministered to me and taught me and I ministered to others and taught them. I was able to listen to Christian radio and the Bible with ear-phones several hours most days and still win awards as one of the most productive employees. The Lord gave me several radio Bible teachers and mentors for the 10 years I worked there, Dr. J. Vernon McGee, Jack Hyles, John MacArthur, Dr. Bob Cook and others. Within about 4 months the Lord led me to a Biblical church where I had real live mentors who served God Biblically wherever they were, some in full-time ministry and many who served God in secular jobs AND ministry. Within a year He gave me ministry in nursing homes. As I grew, my ministry grew and as my ministry grew I grew. Serving God came first and the times and places followed one step at a time. We may not all be in full-time ministry but if we are Christians at all we are full-time Christians.
This article was written by George Whitten. You may subscribe to his free daily email devotionals at worthybrief@worthynetwork.com.
Be fruitful in spite of your circumstances!
Matthew 7:17: *Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.*
In Israel, it*s amazing how many trees are being planted all the time. In fact, the green line that you hear about so much in the news isn*t an actual drawn borderline, but it is a visible line you can only see from the air. It*s where Israelis stopped planting trees.
Now suppose I wanted to plant a fig tree -- would I go searching for lemon seeds? Of course not! And even if I planted a fig tree next to a lemon tree, it would still only produce figs, no matter how close it was planted to the lemon tree.
So in our lives, though we may be surrounded with sourness, even planted in a *lemon grove*, we are *fig trees* -- and the sweetness of our fruit will remain, because we were planted by the Lord Himself, to produce good fruit under all conditions. There is no question that if we are planted in Him the good fruit we bear will come forth in both good times and bad times.
Life is filled with ups and downs, unforeseen circumstances that send our lives in strange loops we weren*t expecting -- nevertheless, we were fashioned to be fruit bearers...unconditionally. You may say * George, you don*t understand, you have no idea what*s happening in my life right now!* You*re right, I don*t -- but I do know the Lord who laid down his life unconditionally for you -- and that He did it so He could abide in you and you in Him -- guess what for...
If life is overwhelming you, then it*s time to reach down deep and draw nourishment from the Root of our lives -- Yeshua the Messiah. The sap of His Life will produce... MUCH! GOOD! FRUIT!...despite the lemons!