The Fruit of Following the Lord

Bible Verse: “They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them… But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.” Proverbs 1.30-33

Lesson: The waywardness of the simple. I watch as you cut a path through the carpet — two knees leaving little imprints along the freshly explored trail, led by two little hands that pad curiously before them like delicate paws. One might mistake this journey for wandering. The waywardness of the simple. But you are in search of something. With big blue eyes shining like headlights in the dark, you crawl from thrill to thrill, constantly processing, searching perhaps for Mommy in the next room. The sound of Daddy’s voice. An answer to the riddle streaking through as light behind the curtains. The strangeness that is your brother at his train set. Perhaps what you’re searching for is knowledge. Usually it’s Mommy.

This search is an important one. It fills your heart with light and life, as you round the corner and someone returns your astonished gaze with a smile, or scoops you up to balance with gentle hands as you bounce on the bed with your brother. Mommy and Daddy are here to hold you, to teach you, to love you, to correct your path when it veers toward some unseen danger. This is the way God designed the world. Perhaps this is its secret you are in search of. Daddy God wrote wisdom to little girls in moments cut across the living room rug. As long as you listen to his love, his teaching, his correction, you will be wise.

Proverbs says,

[Some] rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them.… But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm. Proverbs 1.30,33

Do you see the way to life and peace, untroubled by fear of harm? It is listening to wisdom. Proverbs warns that if you reject wisdom, if you ignore Daddy God’s correction as he lovingly leads you, you will eat “the bitter fruit of living [your] own way.” We always eat whatever fruit we grow in our lives. And God has a garden growing within us — where the Gardener, the Holy Spirit who walks with us, is growing his life. Grow fruit of his wisdom there, big blue eyes. Grow it with your whole life.

We always reach whatever door or wall the path we cut across our lives takes us to.

Paul says,

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8.6

Do you want life and peace? I know you do. That curiosity — that hope — shines from you every day.

My daughter, listen carefully to this advice. God wants that for you more. As you carefully pad to your next path, as your little imprints explore down this trail, Daddy God’s voice will be in the room. His hands will balance you as you bounce upon the bed. His eyes will shine like headlights along with yours in the dark. He’ll peak through the curtain with you as light is streaming through.

Search for the sound of your Daddy God’s voice. Listen to Mommy’s and Daddy’s as we teach you wisdom. Grow the fruit of following the Lord — with the Gardener, the Holy Spirit — in the garden of your heart. And the fruit you eat will be as rich as the light in your eyes now.

Action: Read your daughter a Scripture today. Scoop her up in your arms. Whisper it in her ear. Take her to the light streaming through the curtains. And listen to Daddy God’s voice together.