Teachable Moments

Give some fruit

Pluck it off the vine

I'm giving my fruit

'Cause it ain't mine

It was only made for others to eat

To me it's bitter

But to them it's sweet.

Give some fruit

Take it off the shelf

Good for others' consumption

But stale to eat yourself. 

-Your Life, His Masterpiece - LBF

Why do I start off my blog posts with a story? A few reasons... first, to catch your attention, to connect at a human level, to give you something to think about. Jesus actually did the same thing - except he called them parables.

Many times, Jesus would teach in parables and sometimes, even his own disciples wouldn't understand exactly what he meant. In Matt 13:36 is says:

Then leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, "Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field." (NLT)

Jesus took the time to explain plainly what the parables meant then in Matt 13:51 asks

"Do you understand all these things?  (NLT)

That's a big part of discipleship. It's not just saying something and hoping that it sticks. It's taking the time to explain exactly what you mean so they can understand it. 

With that said, please allow me to tell you what the above poem means to me...

The fruit, is what we've learned from the word of God. We share it with others because it's not ours. It's God's message to a world that he desperately loves. Sometimes, it's annoying to have to explain what seems so clear to us... that's when it's bitter But - to people that don't know, who haven't heard... it's sweet and they want more!

That's what discipleship is... sharing what you know, and making sure that others understand... BUT... if you notice... the explanation is only given to those that want to know...