The Wild Apple Tree.
On searching, we press on; we walk a little further along the path, keeping eyes open to the trees for what they may hide, a harvest waiting, unattended, not on our property - wild fruit.
When finally, the prize is seen - Christ’s prize – on the ground, a few fruits dropped, ready to be collected. But there’s more above on the bough - keep searching, expect more! Excitement and satisfaction rise, “expect more and keep searching,” says the Son of God. His prize is larger still.
Then, around the side of the tree beyond the gate, there’s yet more! Golden in the sun, a little out of reach, in the next field, a heavily laden apple tree, untouched, unfound, waiting to be discovered - Christ's prize! Our souls, His beloved for whom He cares deeply. Easily missed by the ones who do not care to search and persist by jumping over the gate, allowing their ‘boundary’ concerns to stop them. Jesus would say, “Jump the gate. I’m already in the field!"
On entering the field there seem to be so many apples, too many to collect, but Jesus says “It's ok, this is my harvest, collect as many as you can to take home and make apple pie with!”
The joy and blessing of sharing who we truly are ‘in Christ’, through friendships and encounters, that bring hope, life and healing to others, is far greater than what was hoped for and expected, a hope for eternal souls, Christ's greatest prize discovered.
