Many places in the Bible the contrast between the righteous & the wicked are shown in the image of a tree or chaff. The wicked are depicted as chaff swirling on the threshing floor as the wind sweeps it away. (Job 21:18, Hosea 13:3) In Matthew 3:12 Jesus tells us that the wheat (the righteous) will be gathered and the chaff (the wicked) burned up & consumed by the fire of the Spirit. In vivid contrast, we see the symbol of a tree as a blessed life which is strong, unwavering, fruitful, and enduring even in seasons of drought. A tree can’t easily be blown away in a storm, but rather because of its roots deeply embedded in the soil (trust & confidence in God)…it can withstand the gale-force winds.
Author: kezha1
A Christian mother, grandmother, and retired nurse living in Illinois. Called into a ministry of encouraging others to find their ultimate plan and purpose in life through Christ.
Zephaniah 1:12 ” At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad.’ “
The day of reckoning was inevitable because of Judah’s idolatry & moral deterioration. And now through the prophet Zephaniah, God was warning His people that no one would escape His powerful light of judgment. But the people were smug & proud…only looking at the power, prosperity, and security they enjoyed and the lifestyle they had become accustomed to. When everything is going well for us, it’s easy to become complacent & take God for granted and say in our minds, “I don’t need God.” But that form of egotism is dangerous and can only lead to our downfall.
Isaiah 40:28 ” The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.”
Physical exhaustion when caring for a loved one can lead to weariness, burnout and physical collapse if not carefully monitored. That’s because our vital energy is worn-out & spent but not replenished. But we can also have Spiritual exhaustion in our care for that loved one. But remember, Spiritual exhaustion is never the result of sin, but service. When we’re in God’s service, it becomes the process of being made broken bread and poured out wine…at times spiritually draining us to the last drop. So the importance of renewing, and rekindling our soul & spirit is just as significant. That’s when we need to draw on the foundation of our faith, Jesus Christ…relying on Him who saved & sanctified us in order to exhaust us in His service. So be exhausted for God…remembering that He and only He is our supply. (Psalm 87:7)
Philippians 4:13 ” I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
A great quote I came across by Charles Spurgeon is, “When you think of what you are, and despair; think also of what He is, and take heart.” We see that especially in the life of Paul as he prayed to have the thorn in his flesh removed. The Lord replies to him in II Corinthians 12:9,
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” So when we look at our frail, wishy-washy, & feeble lives, we need to see it through the eyes of Jesus. For we can always rely on Christ’s power…and depend on the One who has commissioned us. (II Timothy 4:17) For it’s by His grace that will accomplish His purposes in a fallen world filled with weak & broken human beings.
Proverbs 18:1 ” An unfriendly man purses selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment.”
They are everywhere…the unlovely among us. They seem to be always disagreeable & unpleasant to be around. Maybe they’re that overbearing relative that no one wants to see coming through the door at a family gathering. Or they could be that egotistical co-worker that can only complain, gripe, and weasel out of work all day. But I’d like to challenge us all today with this…”If Jesus loves them, so will I.” That’s because if you think about it, we all are unlovely in some way…our selfish desires ruling over our life rather than God… but God still faithfully loves us. So if He can love the unlovable, so must I.
Roman 9:15 ” God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy…”
Jonah just knew it would happen… and now he was mad at God. That’s because he understood two things clearly…. the people of Nineveh were very evil , and God was compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin. (Exodus 34:6) And so there sat Jonah, indignant & burning with self-righteous anger at God for showing pity to them. But God ignored Jonah’s selfish & prideful tirade and instead focused on the real problem when He asked, “Do you have the right to be angry?” (Jonah 4:9) For the other thing Jonah knew well was that God is sovereign in His purposes to those He chooses, (Exodus 33:19) and that His desire is to bestow mercy on undeserving sinners chosen by grace…just as He did when He spared the Ninevites…or for that matter, Jonah in the belly of the fish.
Philippians 2:17 ” But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.”
A drink offering, usually wine, was poured beside the altar by the priest, symbolizing his dedication in worship to God. Paul had come to the point of totally giving up his will for the Will of God…and of willingly accepting the consequences without complaint…no matter what God sent his way. In this verse Paul is comparing his service & ministry to the Church in Philippi to his life being joyfully sacrificed on their behalf. He had no reservations about what had happened to him, because he saw their faith, unity, and love and he could only rejoice.
I Thessalonians 5:11 ” Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…”
Do you know someone that you can always call when you need encouragement? Someone that’s been the cheerleader in your life…who will build you up, and not tear you down? Someone who will give it to you straight as they exhort, comfort, edify, and console… always assured that it will be Spiritually sound and Scripturally based. These are very special and trusted friends that will make a positive & lasting impression on your life…and you would do well to hold them very near & dear to your heart.
Romans 3:23 ” For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Charles Spurgeon wrote, “God uses people who fail – because there are not any other kind around.” And we can see this throughout the Bible…great men that failed miserably but were still used mightily by God. Men like Moses who was a murderer, David who was an adulterer, Jonah who flat refused to obey God’s commands, Matthew who was a turn-coat tax collector, extorting money from his fellow Jews for the Roman Empire, and then we have Paul who was one of the early Church’s most ardent persecutors. They were all unrighteous and fallen men…or as Psalm 14:3 concludes, “There is no one who does good, not even one.” But this still didn’t stop God from using them for His glory. So remember this… regardless of your sketchy background…regardless of how many times you’ve messed up in the past…God can still use you.
I John 1:3 ” Our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.”
For many of us it started during the Pandemic…self induced isolation that often led to loneliness. But as things changed for the better, we were able to come out of our self-imposed fortresses and engage with the world again. That is except if you were caring for a loved one at home. I found this out this past September when I became the sole caregiver of a spouse that could not be left alone. Yes, there were many agencies that offered supplemental care, and I took advantage of all that was available…but I was and still am the main caregiver. That’s when I had to take a hard look at my isolation and ask the Lord to reveal His perspective concerning it. We are called unto intimacy with the Gospel, and because of that, a deep abiding fellowship with the Lord. Thus, we’re to draw near to the intimacy & love of Jesus…realizing then that we may be isolated, but we don’t have to be lonely…we may be separated, but we’re not forgotten by Him.
Safetypinlove 