The Jesus Tree

A few years ago we had some logging done on our property in Deer Park, Washington.  There were two very small and scrubby Tamaracks close together.  The logger tried to convince me to get ride of both of them but because I like this beautiful tree, and for that matter all trees, I decided to keep them both.

Today I and my faithful dog “Bug” went to now what is my son, Jonah’s property and I was taken back by the beautiful gold color of these now much bigger Tamaracks.  I’m thankful I hadn’t cut them down when we logged!   

As I looked at them I wondered what the Lord had to say to me through these trees. He began to touch my heart.  This is what I saw!

The tallest of the trees was straight and high, it seemed perfect!  I saw Jesus!

The smaller one that was crooked at the bottom and deformed, I saw me!

But what was so special was noticing how the “Jesus tree” was pulling the “me tree” toward Him!

“Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.” Matthew 12:33

The Redeemer Divine!

 “He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.” Psalm 22:8

Such blasphemy was done

On that dreadful day!

They were blinded and cruel

In the words they did say!

If Jehovah is your Father

Then let Him come now.

Let Him send His angels

Then we will bow!

Where is this power

That you spoke of?

Where is this strength,

You claimed from above?

Has it left you now,

In your time of need?

Did your Father forget,

You were of His seed?

Then they were bewildered,

By the last words He spoke!

Saying, “Father forgive them”

They must have thought,

He misspoke!

But no He didn’t

This Savior of mine!

Always loving and forgiving,

The Redeemer Divine!

The sad fact is the same blasphemy continues to this day.  People have never stopped speaking lies about Jesus.  Laughing at Him, mocking the things He taught and using His name in vain!

You see it everywhere.  In conversation between people, in music, radio, television and in print!  You see it in the news, in the books we read and the movies we watch! 

How heartbreaking it must be for Jesus to see His own disciples allowing their flesh to accept such filth instead of refusing to be apart of it!

And the worst place of all it is seen is in the church!  Oh I know I’m not going to make many friends by this statement but the truth is the truth and sometimes it can look very ugly. 

There are many false prophets that fill our pulpits!  “Wolves they are in sheep’s clothing” “Clouds that carry no rain” “Whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.”

These agents of the devil tickling the ears of the weak that have not established themselves in the Word of God!  They mock the very truth and draw many to their false teachings that mock the Living LORD!  

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

While He was Mocked, We were Redeemed

“All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,” Psalm 22:7

This is the Savior as He went to the cross!

They laughed and they jeered and words they did toss!

As they mocked, they made faces and remarks so unkind!

How could this happen to this Savior of mine?

Cruelty unheard of, they pulled out His beard!

They spit upon His body while all of them cheered!

They parted His garments and put on a scarlet robe.

“Come down if your King” the Savior was told!

Not a chance would He do that, although this power He possessed!

He became sin for all mankind; with this end He was obsessed!

I am never able to leave our wonderful Savior on the tree!

For on the third day He Arose for you and me!!!  

“And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,” 

Matthew 27:39

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

The Crimson Worm

“But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.” Psalm 22:6

Who was this worm the reproach of men?

Despised by all when He came!

Not a Rabbi or a leader.

He held no office of high estate.

He was just a carpenter’s son!

The rebuke of men He came to save.

His Father turned away from His sight!

Undeserving of this dreadful state,

This worm for us did fight!

He was just a carpenter’s son!

For me and all, this worm did crawl

To the top of Calvary’s Hill!

Lifted high above the others there,

Took our place and did His Father will!

He was just a carpenter’s son!

Like the scarlet worm that clang to the tree,

To bring life to her own!

The stain she left was crimson red,

They lived and she went home!

He was just a carpenter’s son!

Now this Worm of low estate is lifted high above!

With a name above all other names!

King of kings! Lord of lords!

He was just a carpenter’s Son!

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”  Colossians 1:15-20

I found it very difficult to think of the LORD as a “worm”!  However in this verse we can see the miserable state Christ was in and what He became to satisfy our sin!

I would never consider my LORD as a worm but I am so thankful He expressed His love for us and gave up His glory for such a worm as I!!!

A Thought and a Prayer

“They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.”  Psalm 22:5

God hears our cry from any distance.

He is omnipresent in His existence!

Every thought every word, mental or spoken.

He comprehends and His promise is unbroken!

Believe and accept the promise He gives.

Your answer is ready the response is His!

While others may laugh and think you are weak.

God has answered your prayer and now you can sleep!

“When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.  Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.  For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.” Proverbs 3:24-26

GOD’s Instrument

“Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.” Psalm 22:4

In all our troubles, if we will just trust.

Leaning on GOD is an absolute must!

Never can we waver or cast aside,

In the promises of GOD we must abide!

Just look at the others He used by the way.

God’s power and might kept them from going astray!

He used the weak and made them strong.

Not by their power, GOD led them along!

If you think you have power and strength on your own,

You are foolish and misguided, look to GOD’s throne!  

There is no greater joy then to give GOD His free reign.

His power magnificent and release from all pain!

Just walking in JESUS brings such delight!

No wonder or worry as you walk in His light!

There is this unspeakable joy that comes to the one that allows GOD to use them.  There is a feeling of you doing things that you understand was impossible to do on your own and yet they are accomplished through the power of GOD!  You become GOD’s instrument and what could be greater then that?

“But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:” 2 Corinthians 1:9

Because GOD is Holy

“But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” Psalm 22:3

Because GOD is Holy,

He purifies the soul!

Because GOD is Holy,

He makes the sinner whole!

Because GOD is Holy,

He answers all our prayers!

Because GOD is Holy,

He loves us and He cares!

Because GOD is Holy,

He guides us by the LIGHT!

Because GOD is Holy,

He removed our need to fight!

Because GOD is Holy,

He takes away my fear!

Because GOD is Holy,

He fills our hearts with cheer!

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;” 1 Peter 1:15

Because GOD is Holy,

Let us love Him with all our care!

Because GOD is Holy,

JESUS we will share!