Are you an Ugli Fruit?

Are you an Ugli Fruit?

Recently I discovered something called Ugli Fruit sold at my local Publix. This stuff is really ugly and does not even look appealing. If you were to look this fruit up on the Internet you would find it described as “Hideous to look at - It is lumpy, frumpy, and has a poor complexion” I mean looking at this fruit in the store you would pass it by because it looks like a grapefruit gone bad on the shelf.

I remember when I first laid eyes on it in the store. I had to ask the produce manager if his Grape Fruit had gone bad. He laughed and told me that it was suppose to look like that and that it was probably the sweetest citrus fruit he had on the shelf. I looked at him like he was crazy and said, "man you must be crazy that stuff looks like its gone bad right here on your shelf". The Produce Manager kind of chuckled but assured me the Ugli fruit was good and the he would even let me try it. I looked at the fruit again as he chose one off the shelf and dug his thumb into the top of the fruit and peeled back the thick skin and separated the fruit from the peeling.

Once he had the fruit opened and the layers of Ugli skin peeled back I noticed how full of juice the fruit was and that it had no seeds and it was really a very beautiful fruit. I took it from him and place the fruit on my tongue and was surprised to taste something that was kind of indescribable as I had never tasted any thing quite like this. I purchased 3 of them that day and vowed to my family if you touch my fruit I will hurt you!!!

Looking back on this I wonder how many of us is like the “Ugli Fruit”. How many of us are sweet once the layers are peeled back.  It’s kind of like this; If I were to just look at you or have a brief encounter with you like I did with the fruit at the grocery store but all I see is this “Lumpy, Frumpy skin with a poor complexion (poor Christ like complexion). Then how likely am I going to want to purchase the fruit (or get to know you)?  In my case the produce manager who had truly experienced the fruit and knew just how sweet it really was and wanted me to know it shared his experience. But let’s say only the stock boy was there the day I went in to purchase fruit and he really did not have the same personal knowledge as his manager and he could only speak of what he has seen or maybe he is new there and thinks the fruit is bad also and decides it should be discarded and thrown away.

God puts it like this: Matthew 7:16-20

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁶ You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

So I ask you then are you being an Ugli Fruit? Are we allowing people to see the special fruit God has created within us? This special fruit is for us to share with others and show them how sweet the love of God can be and how special the message of salvation is for them. If we sit with our arms folded and a sour look and say to ourselves “well they didn’t speak to me so why should I speak to them” it may be that they are afraid even scared to approach you/me if that’s how we look to the new folks around us in small group and in the main service?

So if you are an Ugli fruit, with a rough and tough exterior or maybe your a “Man’s Man” that’s OK but you have to peel back the layers and show the love of Jesus Christ to everyone around you. Then I bet you wont look like that Ugli fruit anymore, you will be that beautiful piece of fruit God intended you to be!!

John 15:4

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.