June 15

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. — Eph 4:15 BSB

Harvest is a time of ripeness, when the fruit and grain have fully matured in both size and weight. Time has softened the tartness of the unripe fruit, and it has been mellowed and sweetened by the summer rains and heat. The sun has colored it beautifully, and now it is ready and ripe to fall into the hand. This is how the Christian life should be. There are many areas of life that need to be softened and ripened. Many Christians have orchards full of fruit, but the fruit is still green and sharp to the taste. Though there is much that is good in them, it is incomplete and still sour. Perhaps something goes wrong in your personal life, and you become flustered and lose your peace and joy in God, which causes you to lose your Christian joy as well. These things bring regret and misery. Day after day, you may find yourself sorry for how you’ve reacted. You know you’re not ripe and mellow, and no amount of effort can bring about this sweetness. It must come from within.