DEAD TREES AND OTHER THINGS

I heard a sermon this past Sunday where an illustration was given of a dead tree and compared it to we in the body of Christ. Picture for a moment a dead lifeless tree in winter. Dormant, no leaves, no blooms. Just a big piece of wood sticking up out of the ground. It is not truly dead but lying dormant for the winter months waiting to burst forth again in spring. Christians can be kind of like that tree. We can sit dormant for a long time and not 'bloom' at all for the Lord. We would not look any different than any other person and have no real value other than taking up space waiting for spring so we can bloom and bud. It should not be like that. We need to remain alive and vibrant year round so we can be effective for the Lord. Sure times in life come that can make us feel lifeless but that is where we need to stay connected to the 'vine' to get the nourishment we need.

Maybe we need a little nourishment in order to start growing. This fertilizer is the word of God, worship and fellowship. By feeding our spirits with Gods' word and listening to good praise music and attending church or Bible study our spirits can grow and soar and come to life!

Ephesians 2:1-2 says "Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world." The entire second chapter of Ephesians is worth reading. Grab a cup of java and sit down and feast on the word. Stay connected to the vine in order to grow.Let me end with this wonderful word from the book of John. John 15:1-5 says " I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." Go out and bloom for the Lord!!

PRAYER: Father recharge our spirits. Awaken us to those around us who need the light of Jesus in their lives. Keep us growing for you. Forgive us for when we have coasted through life and not given you any time and thus causing our spirits to shrink and our Christian life to be stagnant and dormant. I want to be alive for you Lord. In Jesus Name. Amen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_ZAN2HKS4c
(Devotion idea today came from sermon by Rev. Jimmy Aycock of Asbury UMC, Madison, AL)