Tomatoes and Jesus: Staying Connected to the Vine – Weekly Health Scripture: John 15:5

I was hungry for lunch and immediately thought of having a grilled-cheese sandwich with a slice of tomato. Not a store-bought tasteless tomato but a juicy, sweet, home-grown one. Without hesitation, I walked outside to where I’m growing two tomato plants.  One is a grape-shaped cherry tomato and the other is a larger Big Boy brand.  They’ve been ripe for a little over two weeks now and I’ve already enjoyed a few dozen cherry tomatoes. Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and A and the anti-oxidant lycopene. They are my favorite fruit during the summer. Yes, botanically, a tomato is the ovary, together with its seeds, of a flowering plant – therefore it is a fruit. As I was rinsing off the tomato I picked and preparing to cut it, the thought came to me quickly that as a tomato is a very healthy fruit to eat, as a person stays closely connected to Jesus, he/she will exhibit much fruit in their life.  (See John 15:5) Paul explains this to us in Galatians 5:22-23 – the fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control. Then the thought came into my mind that Jesus is the path to perfect fruit.  The more we stay connected to Him and partake of Him, the more fruitful our life will be… and it probably will be healthier.  When our lives are rooted in Jesus, then we will bear these kinds of fruit. That’s what the Bible says. And any physician will tell you that a life that exhibits the fruits of the spirit mentioned in Galatians is likely to be healthier than a life absent of such fruits. Points to Ponder So, on this second day of Summer, are you incorporating healthy fruits and vegetables into your daily diet?  You can get some pretty healthy fruits and veggies at your local market. More importantly, how are you nourishing your spirit so that your life will exhibit the kind of fruit that Paul mentions in Galatians?  Are you remaining close to Jesus?  Do you know Him in a personal way? Helpful Links Get to know Jesus Other blog posts on diet and fruits