Bearing Fruit In and Out of Season

[S] Revelation 22:1-2 --
 ¹Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, ²in the middle of its street On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

[O] The tree of life bears twelve kind of fruit where the number twelve usually signifies the abundant and completeness therefore must mean that it is bearing all the possible fruit.  As I close this year of 2010, I am wondering if my life was abundant this year bearing all the potential fruits I can.  On top of that, this tree yielded its fruit every month -- was in season all months of the year.  When I'm feeling good, bearing fruit such as serving or forgiving others are easier to produce but when I'm down and under, those are the last things I want to produce.  That is to say, the fruit of my life are seasonal.  Not only the fruit of this tree is important but its leaves also heal the nations.  Come to think of it, I haven't seen any fruit trees without any leaves, so they are part of the mix, too, where the leaves soak up the sun to bring life to the tree and if the tree is damaged, this will bring healing.  What may seem like useless leaves on fruit trees are actually very important.  The leaves in my life relates to all the busy-ness of my spiritual activities.  They may just seem non-critical but God's sunlight is soaked up through those activities and will bring healing to my life such that I may bear all of my potential fruits throughout the year.

[A] The year 2011 is just around the corner, and my mission statement for 2011 will be:  Soak up God's sunlight through my devotional times and bear all possible fruits in and out of season.


[P] Dear Father, please bring me deeper into Your word in 2011.  May my life be richer with the signs of bearing all potential fruits all year round.  I anticipate next year to be a year where not only my life but my family's dynamics will clearly point to serving You together.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.