Re:Verse reading–Luke 23:1-27, 32-49 (day three)
“If men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” It’s never the right moment, is it? You’ll wait till things settle down, till your courage wells up, till your money runs out, till your ship comes in. Are you allergic to now? You’re not going to trust him now, you won’t go with him into the unknown at this moment, you’re not ready to re-orient your confidence from the temporal to the eternal at once. That is your decision. But the present has a short shelf life. Your heart’s not getting any softer. Jesus is near now, not then; here, not there; to you, not to that other person you’re competing with. When this moment passes, hearts get hard, and doors close.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers today, Pastor Bryan. Now is the time! It is also time to make sure I retrieve my complimentary, promotional CD. Hope to see you Sunday.
BW
How important this verse is in the overall scheme of things? If men cut down a green tree while it still produces fruits and is still useful then what will happen to a dead tree? A dead/dry tree can not produce fruits and is useless so surely it will be thrown away without a second thought!!
Jesus was the green and useful tree in his time but what happened to Him as a prophet and a son of God should remind us that anything can happen to us as men deem right for them. Jesus produced so many miracles people in his time had witnessed, from healings, casting out demons and even raising the dead and were part of the birth of his ministry, but all of those did not matter! People did not care! They demanded that Jesus be crucified. It was so painful to see that He was treated as a criminal.
I cannot imagine the world without Jesus’ teachings. What happens to a world without compassion and love for mankind and without morality? Will this kind of world without God be considered as a dry tree? What will happen when there are no prophets and no Jesus’ teachings? What will happen if God’s Word is no longer considered our fruits or foods? What will happen when our surroundings are dry? Something for us to think about!
I see a priority for training and education about Jesus’ teachings and about God’s Word. What do you see? Are we currently in the green time or dry time in God’s history? Are you considered yourself a green “tree” or a dry “tree”?
Scott, Your comparison and contrast of Herod and thief on cross is spot on. I love it. And thank you for pointing that out. I would have completely missed that truth. GF