Just Peachy

I’d found the perfect Japanese peach. There it was, protected inside a clear clamshell container and nestled in one of those fruit sweaters. Perfect color. Firm but ripe, and just the right amount of fuzz.  It looked so succulent and sweet. I justified the 600 yen price tag because after all, it was our anniversary. It would be a special breakfast for us. 

The morning came. Washing it in cool water, I was careful not to bruise the fragile fruit. My paring knife easily pierced the skin as I sliced it in half. Oh no! Disaster! The pit had split right in half along with the fruit revealing  a rotten, black center. Ugh! How could this be? It looked so perfect and was so expensive. Great! Now what? Toast? 

Clearly, I’m not a very good judge of peaches. And, come to think of it, I may not be a very good judge of people either! But Jesus is. He sees right through us.

In biblical times, the religious leaders of the day were supposed to be the “good guys”, the “righteous ones”. Everyone looked up to them as an example of holiness as they walked around all pious. But Jesus saw through to their hearts and saw pride and envy, amongst other things. And, He had some pretty harsh words for them. He said they were like white washed tombs, clean on the outside but full of dead men’s bones! (Matthew 23:27) 

I’m glad it’s okay not to be perfect. It’s okay to admit we are broken and struggling. Jesus welcomes us and looks beyond our oddities and imperfections and right into our heart. But what will He find there? Faith and fruit of Spirit, or pit-iful pride? Hmmm…

Oh Lord, fill me with Your Spirit, I pray.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV