Truth Seekers Newsletter
January 13, 2008: Can Trees Clap Their Hands?
[Truth Seekers Home]
The land was something people understood in Bible times. Ever since Adam was directed to till the ground, each generation learned the principles of planting. They learned something about how things grow.
Jesus Himself in Matthew 13 gave some important lessons about growing things. He knew His Word was like precious seeds and He wanted us to understand what must happen to get a harvest.
I Planted, But Nothing Came Up! This Ground is Hard!
Sometimes seeds are planted, but they don't grow. Why? The seed might be planted on rocky ground that has not been prepared to receive the seed. Good farmers know that a crucial step in planting is preparing the ground. They till the soil and soften it up, before attempting to drop seeds into it.
Many times we know we have such a Good Word from the Lord and we want to plant it now. We are surprised when the recipient is not as excited as we are about this wonderful Word. What went wrong? Their hearts needed to be opened first to receive that Wonderful Word. Always pray that the Lord will open the hearts of those who will hear His Word so they can receive it with joy. This is an important first step.
I Planted, But Someone Keeps Stealing the Seed Before It Ever Takes Root!
Sometimes even a good farmer will feel so good about getting those seeds in the ground that he forgets to check them often and keep the thieves away. Jesus talked about the persons who receive His Word with great joy, but quickly the worries of life cause them to turn loose of that Word.
Sometimes we think if we lead a person to profess their faith, then we're done. But newly planted seeds have to be tended, nurtured and watered. It is crucial that someone stay with the new believer to assure the seeds of the Word don't get carried away.
I Know What's Wrong! It's The Weeds! Let's Get Them Out of There!
What do you usually do with weeds? You pull them up. But Jesus said not to do that in terms of humans. Why would He say that?
Have you ever confused a weed with a flower and pulled the wrong one up? Have you ever gone to weeding so fervently that you also pulled the flowers up too? Jesus recognizes what are weeds and what are flowers. He gently tells us to let them grow together and at the end of time, He will do the weeding. Some of us who sometimes look like weeds are very happy that no one has tossed us out of the Kingdom yet! Let God do the judging of people and decide who's out and who is in and when.
Bend Me! Shake Me! I Won't Break!
Let's look at the basic structure of plants. A root holds the plant or tree in the ground. It gives it stability. If the roots don't go very far into the ground, the plant has no stability. It can be pushed over or fall over easily.
If our roots are planted firmly in Jesus, it is less likely that we will be pushed over. We may bend with the wind, but we will not break. We have a firm foundation supporting us!
The Lesson of the Vine and Its Branches
Roots provide a system of nourishment to the tree. Jesus said, "I am the Vine. You are the branches. Without Me, you can do nothing." Take a tree or plant away from its roots and it will soon die. Take us away from Jesus and we will also die.
Searching for the Sun (Son)!
God has also given us another masterful lesson in watching how the branches on a tree spread out. The branches peek out from under each other, as they all reach up and seek to be exposed to the sun. How are we renewed? By spreading our arms upward to the Lord and seeking the Light of His Son!
Which Way Are You Growing?
Trees grow from the inside out, not the outside in. Humans do likewise. Whatever is not needed anymore is gently shed, prodded by the new growth behind it. Many of us try very hard to grow from the outside in instead of the other way around. Example: A person who just tries to lose weight without confronting the issues inside of them that prompted their becoming overweight in the first place may find any weight loss very short term.
The lesson of life is that in order to grow we have to learn our lessons in order, starting on the inside.
Trees Show Us Their History!
If you cut a tree, you can see the rings in the wood. These rings show the years of growth the tree has had. Each ring represents another year that God provided nourishment and protection to bring the tree to the point it is today. While we may not be able to show our internal rings, there are clues in our external self that we have lived on this earth for awhile.
Sometimes we try to hide the signs of aging, but in fact, we should wear each sign proudly because it demonstrates just how long God has been caring for us. When you celebrate your next birthday, use it as an opportunity to tell others about all the things the Lord has done for you in your history. Sharing some of those life chapters are ways of witnessing of the Lord's Provision!
A Fruit That Looks Just Like the Vine!
Trees and plants, like animals, fish and birds show us God's wonderful Creativity. There are many similarities, but many differences. Just as God's Creatures were told to produce after their own kind, so it is with the plants. Apples don't produce grapes. Grapes don't produce pears. Jesus said by a person's fruit you would know them. The fruit we produce in our lives should look just like Jesus, the Vine from which it came. Look back over a typical day at things you said and did. Could everyone tell those things came from the Jesus Vine?
One Season Following Another ...
God taught another lesson through His Plants and Trees. Ecclesiastes 3 tells us that there is a season for everything. Nowhere is this illustrated more eloquently for us than through plants and trees. Green leaves become dazzling yellows and oranges in the fall and then fall to the ground to provide fertilizer for the next generation. The vine or tree itself still stands strong, but its branches bend and fruit is produced in its season to give back to God's Creation. The trees seem to know when it is time to change seasons and they do.
The Circle of Life
Life is a Circle. Not only do we see this in the life cycle of trees and plants, but also in the ongoing exchange of life between them and us. Plants produce oxygen, which is needed by humans and we produce carbon dioxide, which is needed by plants. This life giving sharing brings to mind, Jesus' teaching of "Love one another."
Can Trees Communicate with Us?
1st Chronicles 16:33 says, "Let the trees in the woods sing for joy before the Lord." Isaiah 55:12 says "the trees of the field will clap their hands." Many times when I see trees swaying in the wind, I think, "They are clapping their hands!" The Earth is full of God's Glory and even the mountains, hills, rocks, trees and plants feel it and react with joy!
God's Bookmark on Trees
Trees played an important part in Jesus' Life. It is almost as if God had highlighted them as being very significant in His Creation.
Jesus was born in a manger, a wooden trough for animals ... a link between God and His Trees and Animals. Jesus was the Son of Joseph, a carpenter. Jesus worked as a carpenter during his growing up years. The week before His Crucifixion, Jesus rode through the streets on a donkey and people waved palm branches in celebration.
Jesus spent some of His last hours in a grove of olive trees. Finally He was crucified on a wooden cross. The wood that originally supposed Jesus as a baby ended up supporting Him once more to give Life to us. The trees had come full circle in their season.
God's Direction to Us Through His Trees
God tells us through David the Psalmist in Psalm 1:3 how He would like us to be. Once again, He uses the examples of trees, leaves and fruit.
They (implied, we) are like trees along a riverbank,
Bearing luscious fruit each season without fail.
Their leaves shall never wither and all they do shall prosper."
God intended for us to perennials ... living forever ... producing fruit forever. No wonder the trees clap their hands for joy!
|
