Honor God, and serve as an orchard keeper
It's over, but it's never over.
I'm talking about the first Pentecost — and the marking of it 50 days after Easter, which this year fell over the Memorial Day weekend. To get the story straight, it really begins with the birth of Jesus. The world was sent a wide-open invitation to believe in a Savior born for everyone.
For those who did believe, there was another birthing at Pentecost. The sending of the Holy Spirit to each believer meant the very life of Jesus was born into that person. And this transformation has been happening ever since for those who RSVP yes to the table of Christ.
Our grandson Isaac and his friend Ben — both 11 — were staying with us this year on Pentecost Sunday. We got to talking about the meaning of God living in us through the Holy Spirit. How the Bible says the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. All good gifts I wish I claimed every day, but I get in the way of myself, and do exactly what I'm warned not to do — I “quench” the Spirit.
The boys liked this idea of thinking of Pentecost as another kind of Christmas celebration. Isaac said, “Then we should buy you a present.” They had earned a little money digging up dandelions in the grass, and getting the tomato greenhouse soil ready for planting the starts.
We stopped by the store on the way home from church. The next thing Terry and I knew we were handed a big bag of deep red, juicy cherries. The boys had found their present. And, without consciously making the connection, they had chosen fruit.
When I pointed this out and asked which fruit of the Spirit did the cherries represent, Ben thought cherries were patience. Sounded great to me. Patience is one of those things I have to keep reaching in the bag for. We decided to begin a new tradition — gifting fruit to others on Pentecost Sunday.
Peter — the rough-around-the-edges, impetuous, heart-on-his-sleeve apostle — gave an eloquent message on that first Pentecost. I find myself in it, these two thousand years later. He said to all the crowd in Jerusalem who had gathered at the sound of a great rushing wind, “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” As many hear His message of salvation from sin and death, they believe.
The “far off” of then is the “come near” of now. I've said yes to the promise of Jesus born in me by the Holy Spirit; yes to my own life producing desirable fruit of the Spirit. I know the fruit is there — even those times I can't seem to find it. I have the capability to be loving and joyful … receive peace … reach for patience and kindness … cultivate goodness and faithfulness … and call forth gentleness and self-control.
If I can offer this fruit and live it out, then I am an orchard keeper for myself, my family, and my world.