Bananas in the Gutter

Stopping at the store today we parked near a bunch of bananas which were in the gutter.  They looked like they had been there a day, turning brown in our mild, winter weather. Most probably the bunch were accidentally dropped out of a grocery bag and not even noticed.

Side note:  I can remember when businesses took care of their properties in the past, and that these bananas would have been picked up yesterday as they cleaned up their parking lot….but instead let's talk about…

...the wonderful sermon we had just heard on who Jesus is, why He came, what He did for us.  For me, this bunch of bananas in the gutter brought thoughts of we humans.  Here we are in this fallen world, for thousands of years of humanity and we have lived and struggled.

Even so God gave us hope of a Savior right away,

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;  He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
Genesis 3:15

As time went by the Savior did come and He was our sacrifice so that we would be set free from our sins!

“when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman,”
Galatians 4:4

“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and He was buried, and He was raised on the third day…”  
1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Now we, who have been saved by the Blood of the Lamb (precious!), live in the days where we rely on Him for our strength and comfort as we wait for His imminent return.  We joyfully live our lives for Him in this hope.

“whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the LORD, rather than for men.”
Colossians 3:23

But sometimes this life is really tough, and we feel like an old bunch of bananas forgotten in the gutter.  We feel like we are nothing. No one sees us, no one notices us.  What are we worth?  We feel worthless.

We need to remember! Who God is! 

“For God so love the world (that’s you and me), that He gave (sacrificed!) His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him (accepts Jesus as our sacrifice for our sins) shall not perish (eternal separation from God), but have eternal life (be in His presence forever).  For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him (we are set free from our sins!)."
John 3:16-17

“God demonstrates His own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.”

1 John 3:1a

Ladies, if you (saved or unsaved) feel like a bunch of old bananas in the gutter, if you feel like you have been forgotten by everyone else, but mostly, you feel forgotten by God, it is time for a reality check.

You are dearly loved by the God of the universe.  Look what He has done for you?!  He did not do this for everyone else, but for you also. Don't put yourself up on a pedestal, but realize how precious you are to the King of Kings!  He adopted you when you chose to accept Jesus' salvation for yourself!

"For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ in accordance with His pleasure and will ---to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding."
Ephesians 1:4-9

As you learn to live in this reality check remember,

"those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons (daughters) of God.  For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, "Abba Father." (as a saved daughter of God, you are in a close, precious relationship with God who loves you so)  The Spirit Himself testifies with our sprit that we are God's children. (adopted by the King of Kings!)  Now if we are children, then we are heirs --- heirs of God and so-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory."
Romans 8:14-17

One way to keep our minds in the right place (reality) is to do all things for Him.  This keeps our minds on Him. 

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."
Colossians 3:1-3

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Ephesians 2:10

Praising the LORD with you!

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