Photo by Sama Hosseini on Unsplash
God made lemons to be beneficial to our health. As we honor Him by being who He created us to be, we get the same opportunity to benefit others.
There are multiple cross-testament themes in the Bible. For example, it teaches us that God, the one and only God, loves us even in our mess of sin and came up with a plan to save us. It shares that we can never work into God’s grace, but can only be redeemed by believing in Jesus. Another theme is the value of selflessness. Desiring to care for, love, and help others. This can be seen through the fact that Jesus died for us. From the Old Testament, we have examples like Abraham, Ruth, Esther, and Hosea. Along with these examples, Jesus told a story about a man who stopped to take care of a guy who had been beaten. The man bandaged him up and paid for a place for him to stay while recovering. Paul echoes the theme of this story by encouraging us to not do things out of the desire to get things, and to actually value others above ourselves.
Three ways we can benefit others by being like a lemon: One, it can help them build up a spiritual immune system. Through consistent encouragement, present support, and by reminding them of Bible verses, we can help people prepare for attacks from Satan and temptation. Two, being like a lemon can encourage a healthy faith in others. We do this by meeting up with them regularly, talking about what God has done and is doing, and by being an accountability partner. Three, it may cause others to have a more positive outlook on life. There are many people in our lives that we can benefit by just being patient with them, listening to their struggles, and comforting them with kind words.
Here’s how not to be beneficial like a lemon: Using tasting and smelling like a lemon to get God’s approval – God’s approval and love isn’t earned, but is given and waits to be accepted. Be a lemon to show God gratitude and to benefit others. Being like a lemon only around select people – Jesus teaches that you should love, pray, and do good to all people, even your enemies. Favoritism should find no home in a Christian. Let rejection stop you – Don’t give up! Jesus sees your efforts.
God’s Guidance:
Luke 10:33-35 (NIV) – “But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’”
Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV) – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV) – “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Hebrews 3:13 (NIV) – “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
Ephesians 6:11 (NIV) – “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
Ephesians 6:17 (NIV) – “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV) – “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) – “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 (NIV) – “And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.”
Galatians 6:2 (NIV) – “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV) – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
Proverbs 12:25 (NIV) – “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Matthew 5:44-45 (NIV) – “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
James 2:1 (NIV) – “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.”
Galatians 6:9 (NIV) – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Application:
1. Reach out to someone who might be going through a spiritual attack
2. Cheer up a friend or colleague by listening to them or sharing encouragement
3. Ask God to help you with your approval problem, so that you can authentically glorify Him and serve others
Strength Point:
People are constantly being threatened by Satan’s attacks, temptation, depression, anxiety, and doubt, so be the blessing in their life.
Song of the Week:
Prayer Prompt:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for creating me in Your image. Everything that You create is so beautiful, yet, I know that You look at us – human beings – and see Your favorite part of what You made. The fact that You gave Your own life up to save us, proves it. God, You created me to be able to have a connection with You and to become Your child. I pray that as Your child, having the Holy Spirit inside me, that I might grow in the way I imitate some of Your characteristics. I’m so sorry for living so much of my life for myself. I’m sorry for doing things solely to benefit me. Lord, move inside my heart and spirit. I want a passion for producing the fruit of the Spirit to benefit others. As a lemon is not just good to taste and smell, but is all-around beneficial, I ask that You’d help me to spirituality benefit the people I meet throughout my life. Thank You for cleaning me up and being undeservingly beneficial to every part of me. I love You, God! In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen.
A Prayer to Pray over Others:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for creating us in Your image. Everything that You create is so beautiful, yet, I know that You look at us – human beings – and see Your favorite part of what You made. The fact that You gave Your own life up to save us, proves it. God, You created us to be able to have a connection with You and to become Your children. I pray that as Your child, having the Holy Spirit inside them, that my friend might grow in the way they imitate some of Your characteristics. Help them to not live so much of their life for themselves. Help them to stop doing things solely to benefit themselves. Lord, move inside my friend’s heart and spirit. Create in them a desire to be passionate for producing the fruit of the Spirit to benefit others. As a lemon is not just good to taste and smell, but is all around beneficial, I ask that You help my friend to spirituality benefit the people they meet throughout their life. Thank You for cleaning us up and being undeservingly beneficial to every part of us. I love You, God! In Your Name, Jesus, I pray, amen.
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