Waiting for Mangoes to Fall

Today I heard an interesting story from a man who recently visited an island located in the South Pacific Ocean.  As he was driving to a meeting in the morning, he noticed a woman sitting with a small child under a mango tree.  Several hours later, he passed by the same woman - who was still sitting under the same tree.  He asked his guide, "So what is that woman doing under that tree?  Is she waiting for a bus?"  "Oh no," the guide responded.  "She is waiting for a mango to fall.  When a mango falls, she will eat it."  The guide went on to explain when children are older, they become skilled at climbing trees and develop the skill of accurately throwing rocks to cause targeted mangos to fall.  Though her child was not yet able to speed up the process, the woman was content to wait for a mango to fall.

There is a lesson in the waiting woman for those who are in a hurry for fruitfulness.  Mangos fall when they are ripe and ready to eat, and the woman knew this well.  Impatiently throwing rocks could also damage the tree and unripe fruit, not to mention the possibility of inflicting injuries on others. The development of ripe fruit, like the growth and fruitfulness of a tree itself, is not to be rushed.  In a society saturated with self and entitlement concerning immediate results, this is a lesson difficult to learn.  The value of such a lesson may even be questioned because it seems unnecessary.  Patiently waiting hours for a mango to fall would just about kill some people!  Whilst there is something to be said for industry and labour, the lesson of the mango-woman is usefully applied to our walk with Jesus Christ.

The woman may seem lazy to you, but actually she was intentional in rising early and staking her claim under a tree.  Perhaps the day before she had passed by the tree and recognised it would not be long before sweet mangoes began to drop.  She could work with her hands weaving and feeding her youngster under the tree as easily as at home.  So she patiently waited in the right spot.  Why?  Because there was delicious fruit in the tree she desired and valued.  She was willing to wait to obtain her desire.  Let me ask you, dear believer:  do you value the work of the Holy Spirit in your life?  Do you place yourself in a position to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit to others?  Are you willing to share with others what you have waited on the LORD for?  Are you willing to slowly work your way through the scriptures, seeking God's direction for your life?  When you are confused or without understanding are you willing to stop, sit down, and drop everything else to seek God's wisdom and guidance?  Are you willing to pray and continue to pray according to the leading of the Holy Spirit, even if you do not see immediate results from your efforts?  Or do your prayers resemble the efforts of a little child who throws a wayward rock or two at the mangoes dangling far overhead, and then run off distracted by the lure of beckoning waves?

The hard texture and sour flavour in unripe fruit slowly changes over time.  The rays of sunlight, the moisture from water, and the nutrients from the earth combine to cause fruit to grow and ripen in season.  Ripe fruit is ready for eating.  After fruit is matured it has an appealing fragrance, sweetness and softness of flesh. Sometimes we can be impatient with Christians who do not seem to be maturing.  We can be frustrated over our own lack of progress.  Bitterness can grow in our hearts over a church that seems not to be fruitful as it could or should be.  The one thing we should not do is throw stones!  Instead, let us take heed to ourselves, that we are resting in the shadow of the Almighty.  Let us be patient and nurture one another, recalling how Jesus has been faithful and longsuffering for our sakes.  Jesus said in John 15:1-5, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."  Without Jesus, no one can be fruitful.  Abiding in Christ is not passive, but intentionally done through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus alone makes your life fruitful, and He is the only one capable of causing fruitfulness in others.

Since Jesus has provided us the Bible which is compared to good seed, it is clear God has designed His Word to grow.  This process does not happen overnight.  Are you willing to be faithful and patient for God to bring growth and ripeness in your own life and others?  Jesus said in John 15:16-17, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. ¹⁷ These things I command you, that you love one another."  Love is the primary fruit of the Spirit we ought to seek to cultivate.  If we will abide in Christ, all the fruit of the Spirit will be produced.  Take time to ask God to produce His fruit in your life, and cause it to ripen and fall so others can be nourished and sustained.  He will do it if we will expectantly wait on Him!

God's Mercy Endures Forever

"Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever."

 Psalm 136:1

If you have read Psalm 136, you likely realised that all 26 verses repeat the same phrase:  "For His mercy endures forever."  What I find compelling about this song is how the Psalmist emphasised the endless endurance of God's mercy through what God did in the past.  We could never use this technique with people for as we all have witnessed, people change.  One of God's eternal attributes is He does not change (Mal. 3:6).  Believers can therefore say with complete assurance God's merciful character revealed in the past will extend to us, following generations, and continue unabated forever.

This Psalm serves to stir up remembrance, to direct our thoughts to the marvelous workings of God to deliver His people of their oppressors.  The Psalmist carefully chronicled the mighty works of God in the past so that whatever a reader might be facing, in looking back they could advance forward in faith.  Even with the constant repetition of this Psalm, we humans have a propensity to forget.  We often interpret our current circumstances from the perspective of our pain, disappointment, and confusion and therefore forget God's mercy extended to those who rely upon Him.  We tend to keep records of wrongs and wonder if God has forgotten to be merciful or gracious.

It is a wonder how thanksgiving to God changes our view from self-centered depression to God-praising joy.  Remembering the great things God has done for us causes our struggles and own plans to melt away into assurance of God's goodness and mercy towards us.  God has been merciful to us, and His mercy endures forever.  Let us praise the LORD and give thanks unto Him, for He is good.  His goodness is revealed in His mercy which endures forever.  Take some time today to consider God's tender mercy towards you in the past.  Hasn't He been good?  He is being merciful towards you right now, whether you recognise it or not.  He will continue to be good, for He is worthy to be trusted and obeyed.

When Tragedy Strikes

Yesterday the shock death of cricket batsman Phil Hughes rocked Australia and the cricketing world.  Hit on the pitch by a bouncer whilst batting on the pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Hughes passed out and never regained consciousness.  He was only 25 years old.  He will be remembered as a rising star whose massive potential was never fully realised, his life tragically cut short playing a game he loved.  My thoughts and prayers have been with his family, friends, and folks in his hometown of Macksville.

Tragedies strike every day which are not reported in detail on the news or websites.  Countless, nameless people across the world die on a day and perhaps in a way they could not possibly have expected.  Such a shock occurrence rightly causes a young person to be introspective and consider his own mortality.  In our world, the bowlers keep bowling, the batsman keep swinging, and the international test matches keep coming.  Some people won't be able to shrug off the tragic passing of Phil, but many will.  They too will have their days come to an unexpected halt.  My hope is that Phil's passing would be redemptive for all people, that they would daily live life to the full, and find their hope in Jesus Christ.

I understand that most people in the world were likely fine with what I have written until the last phrase.  But without apology I simply must write it, for I have found no other hope in the world concerning death than through faith in Christ.  There is no peace, no joy, no hope for a glorious future apart from Him.  People have been playing sport at a professional level for years, but their accomplishments fade and are forgotten.  Great warriors and athletic legends of the ancient world are virtually unknown.  In a mere century - in a world some believe to be billions of years old - grand final winners are all who celebrated them are gone and forgotten. Yet the name of Jesus Christ is still on my lips as the Champion of eternal life.  He is the only One who rose from the dead, and He gives forgiveness, life, and freedom to all who trust in Him.

In this world there is not a shred of hope or comfort for those who face the grim spectre of death.  Time does not heal, and lives are like flowers which bloom one day and wilt the next.  It gives me no joy to think of a man becoming a star, or looking down at me from some heavenly perch.  How does that touch my grief?  When a cousin of mine died suddenly from a bee sting, I cried and cried.  I visited him in hospital, but what could I do?  My tears couldn't change anything for him.  After he passed, the outpouring of support at the viewing and memorial couldn't undo what had been done.  The gracious words and heartwarming memories could not raise him from the tomb.  His tragedy remains a tragedy.  Yet the kind words spoken, the tears, hugs, gatherings, and quiet moments alone thinking have the power to forever alter a man's thinking by a desperate search for life, comfort, and redemption found only in Jesus.  Tragedy can be the path to self-examination, re-evaluation of priorities, and to consider our longing for love, life, and a joyful future which extends beyond our graves.

All this, my friends, is what a relationship Jesus Christ does for a person.  Jesus gives hope to the hopeless, life to the lifeless, and a future for the doomed.  He will give us beauty for our ashes, and those who repent and trust in Him are assured of His presence forever.  You need never be alone in grief, sorrow, fear, and loss.  When women faced the shock death of their brother, Jesus assured Mary and Martha that their brother would rise again. John 11:25-26 says, "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. ²⁶ And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"  All who do believe this experience peace, joy, and hope the world cannot provide nor know.  Do you know the peace of God, even though the tears may fall?  No matter how deep our suffering or how great our loss, we can cry out to God for comfort and help in time of need.  Psalm 130:1-2 reads, "Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD; ² Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications."  Shall not the God who created ears hear?  Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning (Ps. 30:5)

Be Somebody!

Have you ever left a dish in the sink thinking, "Somebody will wash that?"  Sometimes we notice a chore hasn't been done for a while and say out loud, "When is somebody going to...?"  When those thoughts are running through our minds, it's easy for us to overlook the most qualified candidate:  ourselves!  Doesn't God clean up your messes sometimes even without you asking?  We are aware of the need, are convinced it should be done, and our observation reveals desire to see the task completed.  So what stops us from being "somebody?"

Years ago, I was taught a great life lesson by my pastor.  Along with a group of people from church, my pastor and I helped a family in need move house.  I found it exciting to help meet a person's need in a practical way.  After completing the move I said, "You know, what a great opportunity for ministry.  Somebody should start a helps ministry to aid people in practical ways."  With a twinkle in his eye, my pastor turned to me and said something basically like, "If you think someone should do it, why don't you do it yourself?"  I did think somebody should do it, and in that moment a "Helps Ministry" was birthed at our church which continued for many years.  I began coordinating a group of us from church who helped countless people move, we roofed houses, did basic handyman repairs, and even odd jobs like removing dead opossums from under a trailer!  It wasn't glamorous work, but we used our gifts and even our trucks to help others for the glory of God.

So when you think somebody ought to be doing something, why can't that somebody be you?  Every day you have the opportunity to be somebody who goes the extra mile, does a little extra to bless others, and is governed by God's grace and love - without even keeping track.  If we are serving others as unto the LORD, affirmation from others is never the fuel we require.  The strength, peace, and comfort from the Holy Spirit is the only "Well done!" we need!  That's the wonderful thing about being that special somebody:  in seeking to bless others we are the ones who are blessed most.  How about it?  If you are willing, today and every day you can be somebody!