Lemons to Lemonade: Sweet Fruit in a Bitter World
DEVOTIONALS
Written Miracle
8/10/20256 min read
Hey Sis!
I pray that plenty of good, high-quality fruit has been overflowing on your side of the garden. I am sure it has, and we are going to make sure it keeps growing!
Before we bite into the fruit, here is the one thing I need you to hold onto if you don’t remember anything else: You are set apart.
This truth runs all throughout Scripture, including in Jeremiah 1:5:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Being set apart means God handcrafted you. You were created in His image, declared “good,” fearfully and wonderfully made. You are called, appointed, the salt of the earth, and you belong to Him.
And what does being set apart mean you are not? You are not called to conform to the patterns of this world. You are not the tail, you are the head. You are not beneath, you are above. You are chosen to live in such a way that your life bears fruit that glorifies God, turning life’s bitter lemons into sweet, refreshing lemonade.
I titled this week’s devotional Lemons to Lemonade: Sweet Fruit in a Bitter World. I mean, what is summer without a tall, cold glass of sweet lemonade? Sounds pretty tasty to me. But we are not here to talk about lemonade in the literal sense. We are here to focus on the FRUIT. Spiritual fruit that stands tall and evident, and bold not bitter but oh so sweet.
The sad reality is that we live in a harsh, bitter world. A world full of entitlement and offense instead of humility and grace. A world that thrives on “cancel culture” and preaches, “If it doesn’t serve you, cut it off immediately.” Now hear me clearly when I say this. We should never hold on to things that are detrimental to our growth, so that’s not what I am referring to. I am speaking about attitudes and behaviors that are self-centered, self-seeking, unforgiving, ill-intended, and inconsiderate of others.
Again, sad to say, but this is what the world has come to. Which is why so many of us are socially anxious and would rather retreat and isolate ourselves most days, even from our loved ones at times. This is why there is so much mistrust in both the world and in the church, making it so difficult to build healthy, strong, and genuine connections and relationships. And let’s not even talk about poor social skills and lack of empathy. That is a whole other topic I could turn into an entire series, but I digress. Back to the fruit.
Sis, like I said earlier, you are set apart and made in the image of God. You’re in this world but not of it. That means despite all the bitterness and wickedness running rampant around us, God is calling us to do better, not bitter. Even when it’s difficult. That said, the fruits we will focus on this week are kindness, goodness, and gentleness. These fruits guide how we treat others. Those in our homes, schools, workplaces, and communities.
Kindness:
Ephesians 4:32 encourages us to “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Kindness, along with sharing, is something we were taught as soon as we could form words. Why? Because even as innocent as we are as kids, we are still born sinners and naturally tend to be self-serving, often overlooking the feelings and needs of others. It may be hard to admit, but we are naturally inclined more toward meanness than kindness.
This is why allowing Holy Spirit to work in us is so imperative. Without Him, the reflection of God’s grace, genuineness, and kindness would not be clearly seen here on earth. As image bearers, we are not called to be perfect, but we are called to undergo a sanctification process that shapes us to be more like Jesus. The One who accepted people from all walks of life, uplifted others, cared deeply for their well-being, and lived sacrificially.
Kindness is our genuine, tender concern for others. It’s more than just being nice. It’s an active choice to show compassion and care, even when it’s inconvenient. The truth is, acts of kindness are often inconvenient because they require us to sacrifice something, no matter how big or small. Sometimes it’s our time, our comfort, our pride, or even our plans. Jesus isn’t kind only when it’s convenient, and He even shows grace toward those who betray and reject Him.
Goodness:
Romans 12:9 says, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”
Just as kindness calls us to sacrificial love, goodness challenges us to live with integrity, putting our faith into action through honest and upright behavior. When we choose goodness, we mirror the character of Christ in everything we do regardless of who is or isn’t watching. The ways of the world are so twisted that sometimes doing wrong can seem good, and doing right can seem wrong.
However, Holy Spirit that dwells within us brings correction through conviction when we are not living in goodness. The Bible says that the flesh is weak, but the Spirit is willing. The Spirit desires what is good, but the flesh desires what is contrary. But the good news is that Jesus died for us so that we could live in righteousness and be reconciled to God the Father, who is holy and who declared that we were “good” from the very beginning of mankind (Genesis 1:31).
Again, the fruit of goodness does not call us to be perfect. However, it calls us to live our daily lives with integrity, genuineness, and behavior that considers the greater good.
Gentleness:
James 1:19 says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
Gentleness is rooted in humility and being slow to anger. It means responding with patience and calm, even in difficult situations. As we’ve said, this is a bitter world we live in. A world full of entitlement and offense instead of humility and grace. We see evidence of this all over our social media feeds: family members going at it, neighbors fussing across the fence, a spat between a cashier and customer, a parent arguing with her child’s teacher.
Jesus is both the mighty Lion who leads with power and the gentle Lamb who shows us perfect humility and love. We are living proof of God’s love, grace, and mercy. I’m sure most of us can look back over our lives and testify to how gentle God has been. How He never forced His way in or coerced us into surrendering to His will. He’s a gentle God, patient and slow to anger.
Likewise, we must also be gentle with others, being slow to speak and slow to anger, making sure we do not place harsh expectations or judgments on our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ or on those who have yet to begin this walk. Every day we must depend on Holy Spirit to guide our tongues, ensuring that we speak life and not death, and that we respond with gentleness, even in situations where we feel offended or mistreated.
This week, remember these fruits are God’s call on our lives and a reflection of His character in us. In a bitter world, we must bear sweet fruit that nourishes and refreshes. Let Holy Spirit guide you to respond with grace, integrity, and humility. May your life testify to God’s love, turning every lemon thrown into sweet lemonade.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, my God in Heaven,
Thank You for Your love and mercy that surrounds me at all times. I am grateful that You see me as Your beloved child, fearfully and wonderfully made. Lord, I come before You asking that You fill my heart with kindness. Teach me to genuinely care for others with tenderness and compassion, even when it’s difficult. Help me to choose kindness over selfishness, patience over frustration, and love over indifference.
Father, help me to walk in goodness. Let my actions reflect Your righteousness and integrity in every situation. May I live with honesty and sincerity, reflecting Your character. Help me to seek what is right and good, rejecting anything that pulls me away from Your will.
Lord, please cultivate gentleness within me. Teach me to be slow to speak and slow to anger, responding with humility and grace, even when I feel hurt, offended, or misunderstood.
Holy Spirit, I invite You to guide my thoughts, my words, and my actions every day. Help me to be a reflection of Jesus. May my life bear fruit that glorifies You. Thank You, Lord, for working in me and through me.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scriptures to meditate on this week:
