God Ponderings

Abide with Me

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The world is rapidly changing. More accurately, the world is rapidly declining – and the downward spiral is exponential. At every turn, God-honoring values are under attack, as are the people willing to take a stand for Christ.

Persecution is on the rise worldwide. According to the most recent World Watch List from Open Doors at www.opendoors.org, the number of countries where Christians suffer serious to severe persecution has nearly doubled over the past thirty years, from 40 countries in 1993 to 79 countries in 2023. If current trends continue in this country, the day is coming (my guess would be sooner rather than later) when the persecution of the American church will reach beyond antagonism, hatred and verbal attacks.

Creation, an unwitting prisoner of sin’s consequences (Romans 8:20-21), is also in decline. More species face extinction, invasive species are doing untold damage, pollution continually increases, and man’s well-intended attempts to fix the problems are usually counter-productive. There are fewer songbirds, bats and bees, fewer resources, and fewer places to see creation unscathed.

None of this surprises me. It’s all in the Bible. God revealed to us that, in the final days, evil would increase

Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. (Matthew 24:9-12)

and that the earth would grow weary and worn.

In time of old You founded the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
Even they will perish, but You endure;
All of them will wear out like a garment;
Like clothing You will change them and they will pass away. (Psalm 102:25-26)

It can be discouraging. But God couched these truths with encouraging words. He told us He will return to claim His own

And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. (Matthew 24:30-31)

and even when everything else changes, He will never change.

But You are the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.

The children of Your servants will continue,
And their descendants will be established before You.” (Psalm 102:27-28)

All the ugliness we’re witnessing has its place in God’s greater plan – a plan we’re not entirely privy to. (Matthew 5:18) We’re traveling as sojourners and strangers in a foreign land, living for God’s glory until we reach our heavenly home. (1 Peter 2:11) When we’re embroiled in battles, it’s easy to think the enemy is people who oppose us, but the true enemy is Satan. Our battle is not against our fellow human beings – but dark spiritual forces. (Ephesians 6:12)

Do you ever get tired of fighting the good fight for Christ?

I do. When I’m tired, I’m tempted to hermit away in my home and shake my head at the headlines; bemoaning the demise of objective journalism, wondering at peoples’ irrationality, praying against godless forces, and wondering when God will run out of patience and intervene. I find myself crying out with the psalmist,

“How long, O Lord, will you look on?” (Psalm 35:17)

At those moments, God reminds me He’s closing the door on this world so He can usher in His kingdom. But, because He doesn’t want people to eternally perish, He’s closing the door slowly, patiently (2 Peter 3:9). My job, in the meantime, is to abide with Him, living out each day in humble obedience.

Perhaps that’s why I find the words of Henry Lyte’s hymn, “Abide with Me” so comforting.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day. Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away. Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me! (“Abide with Me”, Henry Lyte)

Holy, Holy, Holy

We, the church, have a calling on our lives. Corporately and individually, our task is “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” While the expressions of that truth look different in each of our lives (based on our gifts and talents) …

And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ. -Eph. 4:11

… we each live life best when we live sold-out to our Savior. And that’s what makes the body strong enough to stand in this anti-church age.

“We do not want to a church that will move with the world, we want a church that will move the world.” G.K. Chesterton

First, we looked at holy living in light of our kinship to Christ. Last time, we considered God’s sovereignty. Today let’s look at God’s holiness, before moving on to the last reason winning the spiritual victory is so vital.

Be Holy as God is Holy

Our King, our Creator, our Savior and Lord, is a holy God. He is perfect in all things. In this, our God is singular (which is what holiness means). No one but our Triune God is sinless.

There is no one holy like the Lord, indeed, there is no one besides You… – 1 Samuel 2:2a

I love this verse from, the old hymn Holy, Holy, Holy, which captures it so well.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee;

Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see,

Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee –

Perfect in power, in love and purity. – Reginald Heber

Not only is God holy, He commands us to be holy.

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” – 1 Peter 1:14-16

If God alone is holy, how can He command us to be holy? By our own strength and will it’s impossible. But if, in humility and repentance, we allow Christ’s shed blood to wash away the sinful impurities in our lives, we can stand before God holy and complete.

“I dwell in a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. – Isaiah 57:15b

This isn’t an exact quote, but I recently heard a pastor say this: “Lament is the language of worship in the church where the Man of Sorrows dwells.” That sheds quite a different light on what worship should look like, doesn’t it?

Consequences of Unholiness

God can’t tolerate unholiness, so He made a way to pardon sin through Christ.

The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” – John 3:36

However, He must judge the unrepentant. It’s the only perfectly just thing for God to do. So yes, those who reject Christ will spend eternity in hell.

And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. – Revelation 20:15

God’s holiness makes Him jealous of our undivided devotion and allegiance. In Exodus 20:5 (part of the 10 Commandments), God explains that we must have no other gods because He is a jealous God. In Isaiah, God says He will share His glory with no one – and rightly so! No created thing is worthy of His glory.

So, what happens when people reject God and worship the idols of our world?

A jealous and avenging God is the Lord; the Lord is avenging and wrathful. The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies. – Nahum 1:2

If we are in Christ, we’re delivered from God’s wrath. But there’s a whole world of people out there who aren’t. Living a holy life in the midst of an ungodly world will give us opportunities to invite others to find peace with God. But more about that next time.

O Worship the King

This is the second in a series looking at why it’s imperative that we, the church, are victorious over sin, over selfishness, and over cultural conformity.

In my last blog, Children of the Heavenly Father, we looked at the first reason living holy, God-honoring lives; because of who we are in Christ. This time we’ll begin looking at the second reason; because of who we serve.

We serve the great “I Am”

We serve a great God; a great, wonderful, powerful, awe-inspiring God. The God who created all things from nothing, by simply speaking them into existence.

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

– Genesis 1:3

He even created time, and therefore exists eternally free from it. He always was and always will be. God, existing in three persons, is the only eternal being. That’s why Christ alone, through His sin sacrifice and conquering resurrection, can give us eternal life.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” – John 8:58

“Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” – Revelation 1:17b-18

We serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Our God reigns, supreme and sovereign over all of creation, all of this world’s events, over all earthly authority.

Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and on the earth; Yours is the dominion, Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. – 1 Chronicles 29:11

We can, and should, be good stewards of the natural resources God has entrusted to us, but God still controls creation. He dictates when and where the rain will fall, and which volcanoes will erupt and whether the climate will change.

He also loads the clouds with moisture; He disperses the cloud of His lightning. It changes direction, turning around by His guidance, that it may do whatever He commands it on the face of the inhabited earth. Whether for correction, or for His earth, or for goodness, He causes it to happen. -Job 37:11-13

The Lord of Lords also orchestrates world events for His purposes, to His glory. He gives and He takes away. As one old hymn says, he sends both “bain and blessings.” His plan is playing out before our very eyes. We needn’t be distressed about the chaos around us. God’s got this!

For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My plan will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’ – Isaiah 46: 9b-10

And the King of King has ultimate authority over every world leader. God allows world leaders to sit in their positions of authority. God allows Satan to wreak havoc on this earth. God takes out leaders, too. And one day, hopefully soon, Satan chaotic reign on this earth will come to an end. We don’t understand God’s reasons, nor does He owe us an explanation. We rest in the knowledge that God has it all under control.

It is He who changes the times and the periods; He removes kings and appoints kings; – Daniel 2:21a

And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. – Revelation 20:10

Our God and King, who is unlike any god conceived in man’s imagination or any earthly king, is worthy of our unabated worship, our jubilant praise and our unwavering devotion. He is worthy of our complete submission and obedience. Let’s ask God for the desire and strength to love Him with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength.

O worship the king, all-glorious above,

O gratefully sing His power and His love;

Our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,

Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

Next Time: Holy, Holy, Holy

Trust in the Lord

I can’t speak for anyone else, but the chaos of these past two years has left me with some daunting uncertainties about what the future holds. Of course, we can never know what the future holds. But we usually have some idea of how it will be. For me, it was traveling after retirement, financial security, and living in a nation that looked much like the nation of my childhood.

All the changes, all the disappointments, all the swirling controversies – both here in the United States and worldwide – have left me unsettled. It’s been a real struggle! I went through my Jacob phase, wrestling with God. I went through my Jonah phase, pouting in the wilderness while God patiently extended his grace just a little longer. Now I’m in trying to settle into my Paul phase, finding contentment in every circumstance. I’m learning to surrender my plans to God’s plans.

Sometimes the “fright or flight” instinct still rears its ugly head. I have no reason to live in fear because I have a Savior who loves me perfectly.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. (1 John 4:18)

So, I think about running. But where would I run to? Another state? Another country? A desolate island? There’s nowhere to flee from the realities of this broken world. There’s no way to escape, unless God chooses to take me to my eternal home.

Until then, the only safe place to fly is straight into the arms of Jesus.

Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your hearts before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah. (Psalm 62:8)

No government or political leader can be counted on for refuge. Neighbors who once sat together on the front porch sipping iced tea have taken to turning each other in for Covid-19 mandate infractions. There are violent clashes between groups with opposing ideologies. Even churches and families are badly fractured.

Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.
His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.

(Psalm 146:3-5)

Christ is our only hope; not people, not money, not possessions. That’s always been true. Perhaps recent events have just made the truth more pronounced. Living for the things of this world is pointless. That’s always been true, too. Perhaps recent events have just made this truth more pronounced, as well.

If we put our faith in Christ, relying on the sin sacrifice He made on our behalf when He died on the cross (and the forgiveness the sacrifice procures when we repent before our most Holy God) we have an eternal hope and eternal glory to live for. Sometimes I find myself more consumed with how I’m going to get through this mess unscathed than on storing up heavenly treasures.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

(Matthew 6:19-21)

When that happens, when my focus shifts from the eternal to the earthly, God reminds me it’s time to run to Him for refuge. It’s time to hide in the shadow of His wings. It’s time run for me to rest in His unfailing care. He wants you to flee to refuge in Him, too. Trust Him with your whole heart. Even when you face difficult times, you won’t be disappointed.

Trust in the Lord, O troubled soul, rest in the arms of His care.

Whatever thy lot, it mattereth not, for nothing can trouble thee there.

Trust in the Lord, O troubled soul, nothing can trouble thee there.

(Trust in the Lord, Thomas O. Chisholm)

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The Church Victorious, The Church at Rest

We, the church, are embroiled in a battle. And if we aren’t aware of it, we should be.

The church, as a corporate body needs to be actively engaged in warfare for all that God calls good. We, as individuals, (because we are the church) need to be actively engaged in warfare for all that God calls good. We cannot be “the church victorious” if we surrender to this culture which labels all God calls good “evil.”

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

(Isaiah 5:20)

But how? How do we fight this battle?

On a physical level, we fight by living our lives to the glory of God. We chose obedience when Satan tempts us to violate God’s commands. We exercise self-control when our flesh screams for satisfaction. We speak truth when other voices tell lies. We respond to hatred with God-grounded agape; not a love that gives unchecked license to bad behavior, but one that says, “I love you too much to let you continue down the path of self-destruction and eternal damnation.”

I’m not suggesting it’s easy. I fail all the time! Then the Holy Spirit reminds me I’ve done wrong. I ask forgiveness. I repent. My good Father forgives me, and by the power of the Spirit, I move forward to God’s glory. I’m so thankful for His mercy!

The statement is trustworthy: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

(2 Timothy 2:11-13)

But it’s easier when we understand our battle is not merely physical. We’re really fighting a spiritual war that manifests itself not only in internal struggles, and emotional turmoil, but in physical and intellectual earthly conflicts as well.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

(Ephesians 6:12)

It’s also easier when we go out into the world ready for whatever the enemy (Satan) throws at us. That’s why putting on our spiritual armor is so important.

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

(Ephesians 6:13-17)

Truthfully, there are days taking time to sit at Jesus’ feet doesn’t seem feasible. Our Father understands our human frailty, so I don’t want to make this a harsh, legalistic thing. But being prepared for battle is important. Holy habits are important: prayer, studying God’s Word, fellowship, and gathering for corporate worship. God uses these to equip and strengthen us.

As I get older, however, I find the struggle is less about preparation and more about endurance. I’m tired! I want to rest. I don’t want to run the race anymore. Yet, as long as God gives me breath, I’m called to battle. As long as He gives you breath, you’re called to battle alongside me. God left us these encouraging words to spur us on.

Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us.

(Hebrews 12:1)

Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

(1 Timothy 6:12)

And He promised, no matter how dismal the odds seem at times, that we (the church) are going to win the war! In truth, the victory was won the morning Jesus left His empty tomb behind. We’re just fighting the good fight until Christ returns or takes us home.

“These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

(John 16:33)

For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world;

even our faith.

(1 John 5:4)

I borrowed today’s blog title from this portion of Samuel Wesley’s hymn, “The Church’s One Foundation.”

“Till, with the vision glorious (Christ on His throne)

Her (the church’s) longing eyes are blessed

And the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.”

Our day of rest is coming, but it’s not here yet! So…

Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.

(Galatians 6:9)

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These Times

A few of you may have noticed I took a sabbatical from blogging. All the crazy events of this past year toyed with my heart and my head. I had to work through some things before I could see, and hear, God clearly again.

Things are changing rapidly in our country. It was founded as “one nation under God,” but has thrown its Judeo-Christian foundations out the window. The church, when it stands with God and His truth, now stands squarely against the culture. We are more vulnerable to attack from this unredeemed world than we have been for decades.

If we live God-honoring lives, we will be targets. The church in the United States has enjoyed peace and freedom my entire life. I came to think of that as normal. But scripture makes it clear; this season of peace was a blip on the radar screen of church history. Persecution is normal, not peace.

“Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil people and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” – 2 Timothy 3: 12-13

So, U.S. church (and I ask this question of myself since I’m also part of the church) are we ready? Every day, we inch closer to losing our freedom to assemble and worship God without harassment. I believe the days of the persecution-free church are coming to a close.

^“Blessed are you when the people hate you, and when they exclude you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man. “ – Luke 6:22

We shouldn’t be surprised. These verses use words of certainty like “when” and “will” not words of possibility like “if” or “might.” Persecution is already a reality for the church in much of the world. Will we follow their example and be faithful to stand with Christ, no matter the cost?

Or maybe you’re wondering, why should we stand? Why not just go along to get along?

To borrow a phrase from an old hymn “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passin’ through.” Our primary calling, as Christ-followers, is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. That requires obedience to God’s word, submission to God’s revealed will and ongoing direction, and unshakable hope for eternal things yet to come.

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

– Matthew 5:10

And how will we stand? How will we stand when we must give up our comforts and conveniences? How will we stand when they come for our homes? How will we stand when they come after our churches and families? How will we stand when it may require our very lives? By the power of God! By the ministry of the Holy Spirit! To the glory of God! To our eternal reward!

“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”

– Romans 8:16-17

I loved blogging about the amazing ways God reveals Himself through creation. I still see His sovereign hand at work all around me. But in these times, I’m convinced the church needs to prepare herself for rocky days ahead.

So, the focus of my blog will shift to these issues; spurring one another on to love and good deeds, reminding one another of the eternal rewards waiting for those who are faithful to God to the very end, and watching the signs pointing to Christ’s return as they unfold before our eyes. Most crucially, reminding all of us as this worldly battle rages on, Jesus has already won the victory.

These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

– John 16:33

Contentment

Tonight a cold moon casts bold shadows over a crisp snow. Venus hovers in the night sky, outshining all her co-stars. And the Big Dipper hangs low on the horizon, slopping all its contents over the down-turned handle onto the treetops.

Underfoot, the snow creaks a complaint about the weight of my boots. Truth be told, we’d both prefer it was just a little warmer. I chuckle at the thought. Why am I so prone to be discontent? When it’s 85˚and humid, I wish it were cooler. When it’s 10˚ and snowy, I long for a hot summer day. I complain when it rains on a day I planned to go biking. I complain when the sun warms the snow on a day I planned to go skiing. Complain, complain, complain.

A speaker on the Christian radio station recently said complaining is rooted in selfishness. Ouch! But when I look closely at my trivial complaints – about the weather, about circumstances, about the people in my life -I know it’s true. My grumbling is rooted in the gap between my expectations and my reality.

The Father often checks our hearts through the words and insights of fellow believers, then brings us back to the truths in His word. In Philippians 4:10-13, the apostle Paul tells his church family he has learned to be content in every circumstance. And, what’s Paul’s secret to contentment? “I can do all things through Him (Christ) who strengthens me.” When we rely on God’s strength to see each day as He sees it, we begin to find more contentment. Our focus shifts from our wants and needs to what God is trying to accomplish. When we are grateful for God’s provision of our necessities, we become more content with every unnecessary blessing.

In Philippians 2:14-15, Paul exhorts us to “Do all things without grumbling or disputing.” Why? So we will be “above reproach in a crooked and perverse generation” and a “light in the world.”

Not grumbling and complaining about the blows life deals us is a counter-cultural concept. If we can learn to be content in any circumstances, if we can accomplish our work without grumbling, if we serve without butting heads with those around us, we will be a light in the darkness, a shining ambassador for Christ, a daily testament to God’s faithfulness.

So by God’s incomparable grace and strength, let’s live above the fray to God’s glory. Let’s remember – it’s not about us. It’s about Him!

Be Still

Today a gentle snow falls. Large clusters of flakes tumble earthward, holding hands and dancing to a muted tune only they can hear. It must be warmer today. I put on my coat and head down the snow-cloaked road.

It’s so quiet my crunchy footsteps resound irreverently across the wintry expanse. When I reach the hilltop, I stop. A profound stillness envelops me. I strain to hear something… anything. There’s nothing; not the rustle of crisp, brown oak leaves, not the cheerful call of the chickadees, not a whisper from the wind. My whole world pays silent homage to God.

Winter harbors a deep silence, a penetrating peace that washes over my soul. I smile contentedly. Then I hear something other-worldly, a still, small voice whispering, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) Be still, like a calm, winter day. Welcome silence into your life. Talk less. Turn off the useless noise inside your head. Meditate on My Word more. Turn off the external noise from computers, televisions, radios, and phones. Be still so you can hear Me.

Incessant noise is a cultural curse. (Bear with me here… just venting!) Everything makes so much noise; vehicles, appliances, tools, computers, televisions, radios, phones. Even when people are outdoors, they often have ear buds stuck in their ears. If that weren’t enough, much of the noise is amplified to the extreme that many teens and adults under the age of 60 are running around with hearing losses, many caused by churches, Christian concerts, and Christian camps who have bought into the “loud is good” philosophy.

I realize I’m weird, but I take issue with that. Loud really isn’t God’s modus operandi. Not that God never does loud. Thunder, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, falling trees… all loud. They also seem to have a common thread. All are demonstrations of God’s great might, and sometimes His wrath and judgment. But most of His day-to-day words; words of love, encouragement, reassurance, conviction, hope and peace, are gentle and soft-spoken. Unlike me, God does not usually yell over the noise to get His child’s attention.

If we would hear God, we must be like the wind and the waves on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus “got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Hush, be still.’ And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.” (Mark 4:39) We must obey the voice of our Maker. We must obediently turn down the volume of all the things screaming for our attention. We must read the Bible and listen for the voice of the Spirit whispering to us. We must find solace in a stillness so deep it penetrates the soul like a calm winter day.

Entwined

Today, as snow-pregnant clouds begin obscuring the sun’s rays, I watch the world outside my window lose its warm glow. Standing in stark gray contrast to its snowy white backdrop, is our little orchard.

Last spring, I asked a friend to come over and give our fruit trees a long-overdue pruning. She carefully considered which branches should go, and which should stay. She thinned out the unhealthy branches, the branches that kept air flowing freely through the trees, and the branches that crowded or crossed other, more crucial branches.

But the pear tree was different. After trimming away the obvious, my friend stopped. In the middle of this tree, two large branches grew together in tight quarters. In fact, one branch rested securely in the fork of the other.

I study those two branches for a moment. They’re so solidly entwined, neither could go without them both suffering. Cut the forked branch, and its neighbor would be weakened. Cut the branch without the fork, and the forked branch would have open wounds (where the branches rub together in the breeze), leaving it vulnerable to disease.

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Once we are part of God’s family, our lives become entwined. We need each other for support, and to protect each other from vulnerability. We are stronger together. That’s why God calls us to live out our walks with God within the context of a church community.

The physical, spiritual and emotional turmoil we endure is felt by those who walk with us through difficult days.

The joys and triumphs we enjoy, bring joy to those around us. We weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice. (Romans 12:15)

Like the pear tree’s branches, we’re entwined in one another’s lives — to God’s glory.

Restored

Today we tromp through powdery snow, searching the Christmas tree farm for the perfect evergreen to put in our house. We find one that’s not too tall, or too plump, or too scruffy looking. We settle on a beautiful balsam fir with sturdy branches that will hold our heavier glass ornaments

My husband lays on the ground, saw in hand, ready to begin cutting.

“You’re sure, now? This is the tree you want? Because once I start cutting we’re committed.”

“Yes, we’re sure.” The conviction in our voices frees my husband to put the blade to the tree trunk and begin.

It doesn’t take long for him to saw through the trunk. The tree topples over, sending up a spray of soft snow. We grab the branches and begin dragging it to our car. It will look beautiful sitting in the corner of our living room, decked out with bright lights, and shining glass ornaments, and topped with an angel. For a time.

I’ll prop this Christmas tree up in a stand and keep it watered. But no matter how well I care for it, the tree will slowly die. The needles will dry up and fall off, one by one. By spring it will be brown, rather than green. Now that it’s forever severed from its life-giving trunk, the tree will die. And there’s no way to reunite tree and trunk, no way the tree can be revitalized.

We are born severed from God, fallen Christmas trees cut off from our life-giving trunk. It’s the sinful nature in us that keeps us from being nurtured. Unlike the Christmas tree, however, we don’t have to remain cut off from our Trunk; our Creator and Savior. We can be reunited, restored and revitalized.

That was the whole point of one tiny baby’s birth, a birth still remembered and celebrated 2000 years later. Christ humbled Himself and came to earth as a baby. He walked the earth as a child, died as a young man, and rose as a Savior – all so we could have an opportunity to find true life in His sacrifice for our sins.

When we humble ourselves and seek God’s forgiveness for our rebellion against His Word, His will, and His purposes, He heals the severing wound. As we seek Him earnestly, like the three Wise Men following the star, He nourishes us. As long as we abide in the vine, we will never dry up, never be unfruitful, and never be separated from our life source again.

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

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