HOW DO YOU TASTE?

Hello there dear gist partner. 

How are you doing this fine day? It is my hope that you’re doing well and that you continue to grow in your knowledge of God. 

Welcome to today’s gist. 

Were you taught grafting in Agriculture? It is an asexual method of propagation. What usually happens with that is that the scion, upper part of one plant, is joined to the rootstock of another plant. This would mean that at the end of the day, the fruit, the end product, of that grafted plan would be different from the rootstock. In this sense, it seems possible for the fruit of a tree to be different from the tree, or at least its roots. 

But let me tell you something about products that the Bible says: “The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.” (Proverbs 10:11 KJV). When I read this, what struck me is the fact that what proceeds from you is the true testament of who you really are. Unlike with grafting of trees, it is completely impossible for a human being to produce fruit that is different from what and who they are. 

Simply put; you cannot spew forth evil yet claim that you’re righteous. 

One of the ways I believe the devil has preyed on us as a generation is that he has sold us the ‘God sees my heart, and it is the heart that counts’ mentality. But what does Jesus, who is God the Son, say? He says: “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:20 KJV). This means that no matter how impressive your excuses sound, the true testimony of who you are is how you live your life; the things you say, the thoughts you think –even if no one else knows them, the actions you exhibit, and even your inactions, these regular habits of yours are what truly tell who you are. So you can’t be a good person that always is planning the downfall of others, you can’t be a child of God while making sin your regular behavior, you can’t love God but only involve Him once-once, you can’t be nice but only have vile things to say about people. 

Does God see the heart? Yes He does, He said it by Himself to Samuel “…for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7b KJV). 

So yes, God sees the heart. But what does Jesus say in John 13:35?  He says: “By  this all  people will  know that you are my disciples, if  you have love for one another.” (ESV) This means that Jesus is Himself also of the opinion that there is a lifestyle that His disciples must portray and that when people look at the life of His disciple, they should be able to tell immediately that this one is a follower of Christ, it should not be something people have to wonder about. This then means that if people cannot tell that you’re a child of God by your actions, then there is definitely something wrong with your witness.  

“Only God can judge me!” “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” “Remove the log in your own eye before you come and remove the speck in another person’s eye.” All very true statements that we have now twisted to suit the desires of our flesh. And now we are Christians whose only difference with the world we have been sent to redeem is that we still dey try answer say we be children of God. 

 But that’s not how it should be. People should be able to look at our lives and  see a difference from the way of the world, that’s how we will be able to win them for God. But if your life resembles the world, how then can you show the world that Jesus saves and transforms lives, especially when una no get difference? 

Check your fruits dear gist partner, wetin e dey show? If you find fruits in your life that do not bear witness to the authenticity of your profession of faith, destroy those fruits and grow new, good, ones.  

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!! Make we fit see am say you true true know God. 

May  God help us to live lives that represent Him well.   

TUNES AND THOUGHTS: our song recommendation for this week is ‘Nso’ by Tony Richie, featuring Theophilus Sunday and 1Spirit. This is a song I believe everyone should add to their playlist. I honestly have no words, just go hear the music  yourself. May your heart be blessed as you listen. 

Audiomack: https://audiomack.com/tony-richie/song/nso?share-user-id=140072136 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2u9gPQgKrFzQRKbwCNn0HR?si=tYJTjB39Q4myH1-MLyCBWg 

YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=UxNzGU97ibY&si=quDha9j1YX6_RsT8 

YouTube: https://youtu.be/mtCmPVkuUgU?si=gfYxrZ-JoAd3Jblj 

So…  I actually had to drag myself here today because I honestly didn’t have the energy. Today marked 10 months since my father passed💔. When I woke up this morning, I felt numb and dry; this listless feeling followed me throughout the day.  No, I didn’t cry, at least I haven’t yet, but what happened to me was worse –I felt so empty, like there was a gaping hole in my that nothing would fill. Honestly, that’s still how I am, strangely empty –mind and body completely bereft of emotions and even the desire to do anything meaningful. I just keep thinking that in 2 months, my father would have been dead for 1 year!! You say?! I never even believe say e die and now I find that so much time has gone!!!! Please keep my family and all those grieving in your prayers, thank you very much. 

Whew!!!

Well, that is that about that as far as that is concerned, see you next week.  

Love,

Achenyo. 

PS. I am trying to become active on Substack, but first i need to understand how it works, when I do, I’ll let you guys know. 

PSS. Please share with your friends and, as always, I’ll love to hear your thoughts.