Fruit—Fragrance—Follow.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, all the days of my life." (Psalm 23:6)

Oh, how I love the taste and fragrance of ripe summer fruit. Seriously, is there anyone out there who doesn't love it?

When I used to read the above passage from Psalm 23, I always assumed it meant that surely, God's goodness and mercy would always be with me, providing for me, blessing me—which it does.

But it means so much more.

The biblical word used here for "follow" means "to chase after—to pursue."

My wife and I had a blessed time together early this morning, enjoying the (from scratch) biscuits she made, hot out of the oven. And while sipping steaming cups of coffee, we discussed what this passage from Psalm 23 means to us.

She said, God showed her that as we love and serve Him—His fruit and fragrance will follow us—meaning, the fruit of His goodness in our lives will linger, and be there afterwards—as a legacy of what God has done in, and through us.

Fruit produces a wonderful Fragrance, and people Follow after that fruit and its fragrance.

Fruit—Fragrance—Follow.



Fruit
Where does fruit come from? It comes from the vine. Fruit cannot produce itself. It grows from the branches, which come from the vine—the root—the living source. In spiritual terms, any good fruit in our lives can come only from our source—Jesus Christ; just as He said. (See John 15:5).

"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."

Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life." He is our source of life—our source of good fruit. To abide in Him means to live, to stay—to abide. This is true communion—unity, intimacy: close relationship. Good fruit in our lives (love, mercy, giving, sacrifice, service, kindness), is the result of an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus Christ.



Fragrance
What do you do when you smell ripe summer peaches or strawberries? If you're anything like me, you want to get closer, to see the vibrant color of the fruit, and if you're really lucky—to taste it. When my wife is wearing her favorite perfume, I want to get closer to her. Her fragrance can be, well... almost intoxicating.

When summer fruit is fully ripe, ready for harvest, it gives off an unmistakable fragrance. The irresistable fragrance of the fruit makes you want to get closer—to follow after it—to pick the fruit, and enjoy it.

Speaking of Jesus...

"His branches shall spread; His beauty shall be like an olive tree, And his fragrance like Lebanon." (Hosea 14:6)

Lebanon was known throughout the entire region of the Middle East, for its massive groves of cedar trees, which gave off an incredible fragrance. The fragrance of Jesus draws people to Him—His never-ending love, mercy, goodness, and kindness.

Follow
It is the goodness of God that leads people to repentance. It was the fragrant aroma of His goodness—of Him first loving me—giving His life as a ransom for sinners like me—that led me to repent: to change my mind—and then allow Him to change my heart, and then my course in life.

What do you think people would say about the fragrance of your life? Is it sweet? —Or does it stinketh?

Good fruit grows from a good tree, and bad fruit grows from a bad tree, just as Jesus said:

"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit." (Matthew 12:33)

We are known by the fruit of our lives. Is your fruit good? Or bad?

If you reject Christ, you will be known by the bad produce in your life—which is: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, and revelries. (See Galatians 5:19-21)

However, if you abide in Christ, your fruit will be good, and you will be known by your fruit—which is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (See Galatians 5:22-23)

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place." (2 Corinthians 2:14)

When a fragrance is diffused in a house, everyone who enters the house can smell and enjoy the sweet fragrance that was diffused. That sweet fragrance lingers for a period of time, even after the one who diffused it has left the room.

Let that be so in our lives.

God uses His humble followers to bring the sweet fragrance of the love, mercy, goodness, and knowledge of Jesus Christ to a lost world, desperately in need of Him.

Anyone can be loving and kind to people. But without proclaiming the knowledge—the Good News of what Jesus Christ did for them on the cross by sacrificing His life so that they could live with Him in eternity—they will remain lost and separated from God for eternity.

Invite them to come to Jesus...

"And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17)

Jesus Himself invites you to come to Him...

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest...learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28)

If you're weary from years of being beat up by this empty, hateful and evil world...call out to Jesus.

He will not turn you away.

Come to Him. 



—God is Love and Love Never Fails.