3 Trees

 ~ God Knows Best! ~                

 

The source of the original version of this material is unknown—apparently written by that prolific author Anonymous. 

 

The Three Trees  ~  Once upon a mountain top, three tree saplings dreamed of what they wanted to be when they grew up.  The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: “I want to hold treasure.  I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones.  I’ll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!”  The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean.  “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings.  I’ll be the strongest ship in the world!”  The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town.  “I don’t want to leave the mountain top at all.  I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they’ll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God.  I will be the tallest tree in the world.”

 

Years passed.  The rains came, the sun shone, and over time the little trees grew tall and matured.  One day loggers arrived on the mountain.  They looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful.  It is perfect.”  So, the first tree was fallen and thought to himself, “now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!”  Then the lumberjacks looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is strong.  It is perfect.”  And that tree was also harvested.  The second tree thought, “now I shall sail mighty waters!  I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!”  The third tree felt his heart sink when the loggers looked at him.  He stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven—hoping they would leave him alone.  But the loggers never even looked up.  They were clearing the remaining trees for surplus utility wood.  And so, all three trees were taken. 

 

Later, the first tree rejoiced when he was brought to a carpenter’s shop.  But to his dismay he was fashioned into a feedbox for animals.  This once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure, but was filled with hay for hungry farm animals.  The second tree smiled when he was taken to a shipyard.  But to his disappointment rather than being made into a mighty sailing ship he was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat.  He was considered too small and weak to sail through the oceans.  The third tree was confused when he was cut into strong beams and left in a lumberyard for some random future use.  The once tall tree wondered, “What happened?  All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God.”  

 

Many, many days and nights passed.  The three trees nearly forgot their dreams.  But one night, bright starlight flooded the first tree as Mary placed her newborn baby in the feedbox.  “I wish I could make a cradle for him,” Joseph whispered.  The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as light from that bright star illuminated the manger.  Now, this first tree was holding the greatest treasure in the world—far beyond his little dreams!  (cf. Luke 2:1-20) 

 

On another occasion a tired itinerant preacher and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat.  The preacher fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake.  Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose.  The wood from the second tree worried that he did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through this terrific storm.  The preacher woke, stood up, stretched out His hand, and said, “Peace, be still!”  The storm stopped immediately.  This second tree was not carrying an earthly king but the King of kings and Lord of lords!  (cf. Luke 4:35-41) 

 

One Friday morning, the wood from the third tree was startled when his beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile.  He flinched as He was carried through an angry jeering crowd.  He shuddered when soldiers nailed a Man’s hands to his.  He felt ugly and harsh and cruel.  But on Sunday morning, the earth trembled beneath and he knew that God’s love had changed everything.  From that time on, every time people thought of that tree, they would think of God.  His role in the plan of God was far beyond his meager thoughts, hopes, and dreams!  (cf. Matthew 27:45-54)

 

“We [Christians] know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).  “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). 

 

The next time you feel down because you didn’t get what you want, sit tight and be joyful because God is thinking of something better to give you.  

 

Comment  ~  Trees have a prominent place in Scripture.  For example, the first Psalm, which is almost like a prolog for the Book of Psalms likens the Godly person to a tree.  The book “GOD’S CHILD: Like A Tree” has been called “the definitive work on Psalm One” by a well-known theologian.  (https://books2read.com/GodsChild) 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Contrast, 7

~ Contrast: Shepherd vs. Thief ~

 

Series Comment ~ The Scripture contains many contrasts.  In this series we look briefly at some of them.  Just like in our “Binary” series many of these contrasts represent a choice of this or that.

 

Scripture 1 ~ Jesus said, “‘Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.  Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.’  Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.  Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the door.  If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly’” (John 10:1-10).

 

Scripture 2 ~ Jesus continued, “I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.  But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.  The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.  I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.  As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:11-15). 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW 

 

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God Attribute, 48

~ Indwells Some Humans ~

 

This Series  ~  This series of posts looks at some of the many attributes of God.  Generally, we move in alphabetical order.

 

Scripture  ~  “To them [believers] God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.  To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily” (Colossians 1:27-29).

 

“Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God” (Ephesians 5:17-21).

 

Comment  ~  There is much more in the Scriptures about the Spirit of God dwelling in believers and about believers being in Christ.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Why Trust God? 37

 ~ God Can Use Unexpected Tactics ~

 

Introduction  ~  “Abundant Life Now” previously provided a list of Biblical of examples of fearing / reverencing God (217 posts).  In this current series we look at Biblical accounts that demonstrate that we can fully trust God.  Initially we posted seven general reasons for trusting God.  We are currently looking at passages from all 66 books of Scripture which demonstrate a reason for trusting our Creator. 

 

Scripture  ~  “Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord.  So the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years, and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel.  Because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made for themselves the dens, the caves, and the strongholds which are in the mountains.  So it was, whenever Israel had sown, Midianites would come up; also Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them.  Then they would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey” (Judges 6:1-4).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Question – Jesus, 164

 ~ Regarding Where, 3 ~

 

Introduction  ~  This series is about questions involving Jesus.  Some were asked by individuals involved with Jesus Christ while He walked on earth.  Others are questions that Jesus Christ asked others.  We will look at questions on over 160 topics (some may split into two or more posts).  Even so, it is far from an exhaustive list. 

 

Scripture  ~  “And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, ‘The Teacher has come and is calling for you.’ 

 

“As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him.  Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him.  Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, ‘She is going to the tomb to weep there.’

 

“Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.’  

 

“Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.  And He said, ‘Where have you laid him?’

 

“They said to Him, ‘Lord, come and see.’   Jesus wept.  Then the Jews said, ‘See how He loved him!’  

 

“And some of them said, ‘Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying’?” (John 11:28-37).

 

Comment  ~  If you are not familiar with this Biblical account be sure to read “the rest of the story.”

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Apostle Paul, 4 Evaluations

 ~ Simple Overviews of Paul’s Complicated Life, 2 ~

 

Overview  ~  In the first post we considered three distinct stages in the Apostle Paul’s life.  Each summarizes his view of the Cross of Calvary and who Jesus Christ is. 

 

In this second post look at four evaluations of his own progress by the Apostle Paul as he matured in his Christian faith.

 

Beginning of His Ministry  ~  Look at the progress of spiritual maturity in the life of the Apostle Paul. At the beginning of his ministry he referred to himself as an apostle. “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1 and others passages).

 

Growing in His Ministry  ~  As his ministry progressed, he called himself the least of apostles. “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:9-10a).

 

Further Maturing in His Ministry  ~  Then he called himself a sinner. “Sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good” (Romans 7:8-12).

 

Late in His Ministry  ~  and later he called himself the chief of sinners. “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).

 

comment:  It has been my experience that the Godliest senior saints which I have known are always acutely aware of their sinful nature.  Has that been your experience also?

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Adornment, 2

 ~ Clothing, 2 ~

 

Series Note ~ In this series we look at some of the Scriptures which mention human physical adornment—pretty much without comment.  These posts will include clothing, head (including hair and wigs), jewelry (including accessories), makeup (including tattoos), and perfume (including incense).  It is important to note that some of these passages are culturally related to a specific culture and time period.   

 

Two Principles ~ (1) Focus on the long-term: “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates” (Proverbs 31:30-31).

 

(2) Exercise modesty: “Women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works” (1 Timothy 2:9b-10).

 

Scripture For This Week ~ “A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 22:5).

 

Two Keys ~ (1) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

 

(2) “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Bible Food

  ~ Consider Some Biblical Foods ~

 

Physical food is necessary for physical growth and strength.  Likewise some of the foods found in the Bible are necessary for spiritual growth and strength.  Consider the following foods of Scripture and what they represent. 

 

The Prepared Lamb (Christ crucified)  ~  “And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses” (Exodus 12:7a).  “Indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7b).   

 

Daily Manna (Christ humbled)  ~  “God humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3).  “Fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end” (Deuteronomy 8:16).  “Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat’” (John 6:31).  Jesus said, “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.  This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die” (John 6:49-50). 

 

Parched Grain (Christ glorified)  ~  “Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho.  And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day.  Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year” (Joshua 5:10-12). 

 

Good Wine (heavenly joy)  ~  “And he said to him, ‘Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior.  You have kept the good wine until now!’” (John 2:10).  “And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” (Luke 2:8-14). 

 

Pure Milk (the Word of God)  ~  “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:2-3).  “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.  For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the Word of righteousness, for he is a babe.  But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14). 

 

Grapes Of Escol (the Spirit as our down payment)  ~  “Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole” (Numbers 13:23a).   

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Contrast, 6

 ~ Contrast: Condemnation vs. No Condemnation ~

 

Series Comment ~ The Scripture contains many contrasts.  In this series we look briefly at some of them.  Just like in our “Binary” series many of these contrasts represent a choice of this or that.

 

Scripture 1 ~ “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.  So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:4-8).

 

Scripture 2 ~ Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:16-19).

 

Comment ~ Are you currently under condemnation?  If you want to have no condemnation then I suggest you go to https://three-two-one.org/  

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW 

 

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God Attribute, 47

~ Immutable (unchanging) ~

 

This Series  ~  This series of posts looks at some of the many attributes of God.  Generally, we move in alphabetical order.

 

Scripture  ~  “For I am the Lord, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6a).

 

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

 

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17-18).

 

“Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.  They will perish, but You will endure; yes, they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed.  But You are the same, and Your years will have no end.  The children of Your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before You” (Psalm 102:25-28).

 

Comment  ~  Aren’t you glad that God is not fickle like human beings?

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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