Who can you trust nowadays? That question took on new meaning for me when I had surgery last month. I was anesthetized and cut open by complete strangers. What made me think I could trust them?
And what about the media? If you watch cable news, you know of the feuding between CNN, MSNBC and Fox—each reporting the 'news' with its own bias. And can you really trust any radio or TV commentator who gets ridiculously rich by telling people what they want to hear?
In 1957, Johnny Carson had a TV game show called “Who do You Trust?”—it was similar to The Newlywed Game. Carson would tell the male contestant the category of the upcoming question; the man would then have to decide whether to answer the question himself or "trust" his wife to do so. I wonder how many arguments ensued after the closing credits. “I love you honey, but I don’t trust you” makes funny TV, but it doesn’t play well in the boudoir.
Trust is no joking matter. History is replete with examples of misplaced trust. So in this world of distrust—from preachers to politicians, from big banks to big government—we know we can confidently trust our Father in Heaven. “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8).
Showing posts with label tree. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tree. Show all posts
Friday, March 11, 2011
Monday, August 2, 2010
Like Fruit Falling Off a Tree
Paul's reference to being rooted in Christ (Col. 2:7) is drawn from the metaphor of a tree (common throughout Scripture) but with apparent emphasis on roots and soil.
In the parable of the sower and the seed, Jesus spoke of four types of soil. Each soil received the same seed but not all bore fruit. Jesus explains that the soil is like your heart, and the seed is the word of God. (Mark 4:33-34) The expectation of the sower is that the seed will go deep into the soil and bear fruit. Though the same seed is sown, only one type of soil permits the seed to bear fruit. Hard soil, like a hard heart, cannot receive the seed. Shallow soil, like a half-hearted person, does not allow the seed to go deep enough to germinate and bear fruit. Soil that has not been cleared of weeds and rocks, like a heart otherwise occupied, cannot nurture the seed and bear fruit. Only seed that is sown into good soil bears much fruit.
What is the significance of fruit bearing? First, Jesus said our Father is glorified when we bear much fruit (John 15:8). Second, we were planted in Christ Jesus to bear fruit. Paul uses 'good works' synonymously with fruit. (Rom. 6:4; Eph. 2:10). In Colossians 2:7, Paul is telling us that if we sink our roots deep into Christ, we will not be able to stop the fruit from coming. The good works will come like fruit falling off a tree.
In the parable of the sower and the seed, Jesus spoke of four types of soil. Each soil received the same seed but not all bore fruit. Jesus explains that the soil is like your heart, and the seed is the word of God. (Mark 4:33-34) The expectation of the sower is that the seed will go deep into the soil and bear fruit. Though the same seed is sown, only one type of soil permits the seed to bear fruit. Hard soil, like a hard heart, cannot receive the seed. Shallow soil, like a half-hearted person, does not allow the seed to go deep enough to germinate and bear fruit. Soil that has not been cleared of weeds and rocks, like a heart otherwise occupied, cannot nurture the seed and bear fruit. Only seed that is sown into good soil bears much fruit.
What is the significance of fruit bearing? First, Jesus said our Father is glorified when we bear much fruit (John 15:8). Second, we were planted in Christ Jesus to bear fruit. Paul uses 'good works' synonymously with fruit. (Rom. 6:4; Eph. 2:10). In Colossians 2:7, Paul is telling us that if we sink our roots deep into Christ, we will not be able to stop the fruit from coming. The good works will come like fruit falling off a tree.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)