Words to Grow On

April 28, 2008

The Apple of His Eye

by

Cheryl Miller

Part II

We have been talking about apples and the similarities between the apple and Christ.

 The apple is known as the KING OF FRUITS.  Christ is the KING OF KINGS.

The apple is good for your health.  It contains vitamins A and C which promote growth and help prevent colds.  Many minerals, iron, calcium and phosphorus in apples are completely used by the human body.  The crunchy pulp acts as a natural toothbrush.  And you thought you only ate them because you like them.

Speaking of health, Jesus Christ is the Great Physician.  During his journey upon earth He healed many of such sicknesses as palsy, blindness, lameness, deafness and many others.  He even brought people back to life.  Lazarus had been dead four days when Jesus called him forth from the grave. 

Apples are good for the complexion.  We often hear the expression, "Her cheeks are rosy as apples."  The minerals and vitamins in apples help relieve tension and tight nerves which tend to draw the face into wrinkles.  Besides relieving this, it puts a rosy glow into the complexion because the blood is strengthened and it shows.

The Bible says, "IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE."  We are told when Moses came down from the mountains after talking with God, his face shown so brightly the people couldn't look upon him.  When the disciples went forth to preach, the people took note of them, that they had been with Jesus.  When we come to Christ, our whole being is transformed so it, too, shows, and the beauty of Jesus is seen in us.

Did you know that there are 200 varieties of insects who attack both the tree and the apple to keep them from ripening.  The gardener must be on watch at all times.

The devil probably has that many varieties of temptation for you and me, but he only needs one or two.  He knows our weakest point and tempts us, but 1 Corinthians. 10:13 says, NO TEMPTATION HAS SEIZED YOU EXCEPT WHAT IS COMMON TO MAN. AND GOD IS FAITHFUL; HE WILL NOT LET YOU BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT YOU CAN BEAR. BUT WHEN YOU ARE TEMPTED, HE WILL ALSO PROVIDE A WAY OUT SO THAT YOU CAN STAND UP UNDER IT."

 In a culture filled with moral depravity and sin-inducing pressures, Paul gave strong encouragement to the Corinthians about temptation. He said: (1) wrong desires and temptations happen to everyone, so don’t feel you’ve been singled out; (2) others have resisted temptation, and so can you; (3) any temptation can be resisted because God will help you resist it.

 God helps you resist temptation by helping you (1) recognize those people and situations that give you trouble, (2) run from anything you know is wrong, (3) choose to do only what is right, (4) pray for God’s help, and (5) seek friends who love God and can offer help when you are tempted. Running from a tempting situation is your first step on the way to victory (see 2 Tim. 2:22).  (Taken from Life Application Notes)