I reached for an onion to slice. It was a rare occasion -- I was actually cooking supper. I hardly ever cook anymore, especially since the boys are grown and have homes of their own. This night was different. This night we were having roast beef.
As I sliced the onion, the familiar aroma was released and my eyes began to water. Blinking rapidly I said, "Whew that's a strong onion!"
Speaking from the living room, Robert agreed - "Yes, I can smell it in here too."
That onion was definitely making its presence known! With such a strong scent I knew it would give the roast a good flavor. I was glad I put it to good use and looked forward to our evening meal.
Onions have a variety of uses. Many of us enjoying consuming them in one way or another. Their odor and flavor is unique. We use onions raw in salads or on hamburgers. To some, a burger would be pretty bland without them.
We use onions in soups and casseroles. The onion complements the other ingredients to make a savory dish. The stronger the onion, the more influence it has on the taste of the cuisine.
Later on in the evening, I wanted a snack so I grabbed an orange from the basket we keep on our dining room table. Unfortunately, the first orange I chose was starting to go bad.
It wasn't strong and firm like the onion. It was soft and mushy. The orange was caved in a little on the top. On one side, it had taken on the shape of the basket wall.
Needless to say, I didn't eat that orange. It was useless - inedible. Since it no longer met its purpose, I cast it aside. I threw the rotten orange away and chose one that hadn't gone bad.
We all know that any fruit or vegetable can go bad. Some serve their purpose for us (food) - others don't. What about us as Christians? Do we serve God's purpose for us? We all have one, you know. Are we like the strong onion or the rotten orange?
Like the onion, we should be strong enough to let our presence be known, right? Perhaps a better way to say this is that people around us should know we are Christians by the way we act and the things we say.
Christians should enhance the lives of others, just like a good onion enhances the flavor of a tasty dish. We have the potential to be a positive influence on others. We should make things better for those around us by being full of goodness and encouragement.
We should be willing to be put to good use for the Savior. There are so many things we can do to glorify our Father. We can lift others up when so many in this world are tearing people down.
We can show kindness when so many others fail to. We can call on those we know who are sick or hurting. We can let our lights shine. Do good works in the name of the Father. Treat others as Christ would treat them. Stand up for what is right. This is the Christian's purpose.
We must be diligent. We do not want to become weak and mushy, like the first orange I grabbed. When we stop growing, when we become stagnant, we become weak and mushy. If we aren't careful, we might cave in to temptation.
We must stay rooted and grounded in our love for the Lord. We can build our faith to keep from falling into the snares of the devil. We can't allow ourselves to conform to the world, like that mushy orange conformed to the shape of the basket.
Honestly if we become weak, we are no longer suited to God's purpose for us. We do not want to be useless to Christ. We don't want to be cast out; but it is what the devil wants for us.
Sometimes it can happen before we even realize it. This is why Peter tells us to be watchful because the devil "prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (I Peter 5:8).
Good fruit was a valuable food source in Biblical times - still is really. The scriptures often compare the righteous as a flourishing plant or bearing good fruit. Actually there are more references than I ever realized.
The virtues of the good fruit of the Spirit are found in Galatians 5:19. A beautiful passage saying the the righteous "flourish in the courts of our God," and are fruitful even in old age is found in Psalm 92: 12-14. These analogies help us realize the importance of being alive for Christ --- and the rewards that come with it.
So let's think about this--
are we a strong onion or a weak orange?
It really is our choice.
Christ above all things,
Robin
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