Fruit Trees
Genesis 2:15-17 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Back in the Garden, Adam and Eve were set up to live out life in paradise. They had the perfect relationship with God. The only restriction they had, was not to eat of the fruit of the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil". Then in comes the serpent into the picture. "Eat of the fruit" he says "You surely won't die." God is just trying to hold you back from being as wise as he is." So she took the fruit and ate it and then after, so did Adam. Original sin.... We were poisoned.
History repeats itself. We find ourselves today standing in front of another tree. This time, the fruit that was hanging from that tree was our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To be free of that original sin, we need to eat of his fruit. (John 6:53) .Now, in comes the serpent again and asks "Do you really think you will have eternal life?" "Surely you will not live forever?" "Knowledge is good." "Live for the moment, go enjoy the world." This time, it's not only acceptable to reach for the fruit and eat it, it is necessary.
Knowledge of Good and Evil.... From that moment in the garden, mankind knew the difference between right and wrong. It is something embedded into our hearts. When we fail to do the right thing, it is sin. The punishment for it, is an eternity seperated from God. There is still a paradise at stake. We were poisoned to keep us out, but Jesus is our antidote. Then only antidote, for there is no other way to the Father except through him.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
X marks the spot.
Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
When Jesus was still with us here on Earth, he woke us up to a many number of things. Throughout time, some things have never changed. The search for power, glory, domination and money are timeless. With our sinful nature, these things will always be in the true nature of our being. Jesus taught us that all of the things of this world will pass. Nothing will remain behind not even the Heavens and the old Earth. Seems kinda pointless to worry about wealth here on Earth. We can however build up treasures in Heaven.
Apryl has a Great Grandmother (Alva) that is still living. She has lived a wonderously full life, and walked with God through out it. There are times when I look at her, and watch her moving around. I see the pain of her arthritis, the frustrations of requiring others to help her to simply walk but most importantly, I see the love she has for everyone around her. In John 13:34, Jesus says "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." When I look at Alva, it is obvious that she lives by this.
I truly try to love everyone that I know. Sometimes it is more difficult to show that love and interact with them, but I can honestly say that I do love them and want to be with them for all eternity. I truly abhor the thought of not having even one of them for all Eternity. (I pointed out the scripture so they couldn't deny me...) Although it has taken me some time to see things for how they really are, I now know what my true treasures are. It is the Friends and Family that I have, and love. THEY are my treasure!
Think about those that you count as your treasures, and pray for them. Pray that they too will be drawn to God and recieve eternal salvation. Then when we, like Alva, get old and gray with most of our friends and family having passed on, we may truly understand Matthew 6:21. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
When Jesus was still with us here on Earth, he woke us up to a many number of things. Throughout time, some things have never changed. The search for power, glory, domination and money are timeless. With our sinful nature, these things will always be in the true nature of our being. Jesus taught us that all of the things of this world will pass. Nothing will remain behind not even the Heavens and the old Earth. Seems kinda pointless to worry about wealth here on Earth. We can however build up treasures in Heaven.
Apryl has a Great Grandmother (Alva) that is still living. She has lived a wonderously full life, and walked with God through out it. There are times when I look at her, and watch her moving around. I see the pain of her arthritis, the frustrations of requiring others to help her to simply walk but most importantly, I see the love she has for everyone around her. In John 13:34, Jesus says "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." When I look at Alva, it is obvious that she lives by this.
I truly try to love everyone that I know. Sometimes it is more difficult to show that love and interact with them, but I can honestly say that I do love them and want to be with them for all eternity. I truly abhor the thought of not having even one of them for all Eternity. (I pointed out the scripture so they couldn't deny me...) Although it has taken me some time to see things for how they really are, I now know what my true treasures are. It is the Friends and Family that I have, and love. THEY are my treasure!
Think about those that you count as your treasures, and pray for them. Pray that they too will be drawn to God and recieve eternal salvation. Then when we, like Alva, get old and gray with most of our friends and family having passed on, we may truly understand Matthew 6:21. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Monday, March 3, 2008
Eternal Hunger
In all four of the Gospels in the New Testament,is the story of Jesus feeding the 5000. (Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:1-15)
The multitude, having heard about the works that Jesus had done, sought him in the Desert. Jesus had come to this place with his disciples for some rest but the multitude followed him. When Jesus saw this multitude of people, (about 5000 men, perhaps with their families), we read that he was moved with compassion and healed thier sick and preached to them of the kingdom of God. Once this was done, Jesus took 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and distributed them out to the men to feed them. Once the men had eaten, Jesus told the disciples to pick up everything that was left over. There were leftovers, about 12 baskets full.
Although this was truly a miracle worth repeating, there is more to the story. Jesus did more that day than offer them bread and fish to fill their stomachs, he offered them the Bread of Life. After being "Moved by compassion" our Lord and Savior was there healing the sick, and preaching to them about the Kingdom of God (Luke 9:11). Feeding them, was only something that he did afterwards.
What a lesson for life that is. We have people begging for our help all the time. Being Christians, we should follow the example that Jesus gave us. If someone comes to us hungry, we should not only feed them but show them how they can seek the Bread of Life. If they come to us Thirsty, we should not only give them something to drink but also show them how they can seek out a Fountain springing up within them that is the Living Water. If they need clothing, we should not only give them something to wear, but show them how they can seek to be clothed in Rightousness. If they come to you poor, give them money but also show them how to seek the their own treasures in Heaven. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus made it pretty clear. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
In all four of the Gospels in the New Testament,is the story of Jesus feeding the 5000. (Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:1-15)
The multitude, having heard about the works that Jesus had done, sought him in the Desert. Jesus had come to this place with his disciples for some rest but the multitude followed him. When Jesus saw this multitude of people, (about 5000 men, perhaps with their families), we read that he was moved with compassion and healed thier sick and preached to them of the kingdom of God. Once this was done, Jesus took 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and distributed them out to the men to feed them. Once the men had eaten, Jesus told the disciples to pick up everything that was left over. There were leftovers, about 12 baskets full.
Although this was truly a miracle worth repeating, there is more to the story. Jesus did more that day than offer them bread and fish to fill their stomachs, he offered them the Bread of Life. After being "Moved by compassion" our Lord and Savior was there healing the sick, and preaching to them about the Kingdom of God (Luke 9:11). Feeding them, was only something that he did afterwards.
What a lesson for life that is. We have people begging for our help all the time. Being Christians, we should follow the example that Jesus gave us. If someone comes to us hungry, we should not only feed them but show them how they can seek the Bread of Life. If they come to us Thirsty, we should not only give them something to drink but also show them how they can seek out a Fountain springing up within them that is the Living Water. If they need clothing, we should not only give them something to wear, but show them how they can seek to be clothed in Rightousness. If they come to you poor, give them money but also show them how to seek the their own treasures in Heaven. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus made it pretty clear. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
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