“When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.” Ezekiel 3:18
About 6 years ago we bought a small potted lemon tree and planted it in the yard. We were attracted to that plant because it had 1 lemon hanging from it in the store. We figured it came with good potential. The first year we ended up with 5 lemons. The next 13. This year we have well over150! The tree looks horrible and has cost me time $$$ and frustration! But it’s mine!
It started about year 3 when it turned all gnarly. Someone told me it was citrus canker, so I investigated, cut it back, fertilized it, then sprayed and prayed. I can’t tell you how many times I have done that with 1 thing or another. The leaves get bugs, mold and whatever! The fruit gets crusty, then brown. BUT… they always taste like lemons! Katie especially loves them.
This year, because of the number, several folks have asked about it. Some have said, “when will your limes be ready?” I love to say, “when they turn yella…their lemons!” I always invite them to come and pick them as they ripen. Lord knows WE won’t be able to eat them all. I GUESS you can say we are ‘kind of’ successful lemon tree growers. Even though the tree may be UGLY!
We bought the tree for fun and NEVER figured it would cost so much in time and money to keep it up! We DIDN’T see or know the potential issues until they came up. Our goal of having lemons kept us working at whatever came up because of our decision to buy the tree in the first place. I guess I could say it represents a certain CARE-taker attitude!
The Bible verse today is a solemn reminder to me. As we study ‘End Time Prophecy’ in the Book of Daniel at our Church Bible Study, a certain seriousness arises as these days in which we live seem to be getting uglier! It would be easy to just chuck it all and say forget the whole thing and not care. But there’s that highly motivating and serious ‘sequitur’ added at the end of the Bible verse…” I will hold you accountable!”
God has given me, and YOU, a job, a ministry, or a responsibility. Whether it’s Faith, a spiritual gift, a vocation, marriage, kids, or responsibility… it comes from Him. And HE WILL hold me, and YOU, accountable, whether I, or we, like it or not. I CONSTANTLY need to be reminded that He’s looking for FRUIT! NOT a pretty tree! And have I got some lemons for Him??!
