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This Week’s Devotional Topic
THREE OAKS
Please listen as we take a look at Three Oaks and three seasons. Spiritually, we are a lot like trees. One scripture passage about trees really stands out to me.
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Now, that’s the example I want to follow. In order to “prosper” we need to make wise choices. Let me share a story of Oak trees that we have. I was raised in California and the property I grew up in had a huge Oak tree in the back yard. It was over one hundred years old. I remember climbing that tree many times. Had actually built a tree fort in its branches. It provided valuable shade during the summer and I also remember raking a lot of leaves under it every Fall. And there were always little “starts” growing up in the area under that tree from acorns that had fallen and taken root. Shortly after we moved to Oregon, my mother brought us some of those for our property here. Three of those survived. Two are in our front yard. One has now grown to almost fifty feet tall. A second one next to it is in the shade of the larger one and it is about twenty feet tall. A third was planted in our back yard.
Watching them over the years has shown me a lot of parallels to our spiritual life. As you hear the descriptions, consider which one of the three best describes the “season” you are in.
The largest oak tree represents a season of Strength and Prosperity. It is strong with its base about eighteen inches in diameter. In the summer, its leaves provide a significant shade and also home to a lot of birds coming and going. It is a mature tree and has stood the test of time and seen a lot of stormy weather. It provides a lot of acorns, “seeds” and there are starts coming up from the ground all around it. This tree has enjoyed the benefits of good soil, moderate weather and occasional pruning when needed.
Are you like this tree? Strong in your faith? Have you put out a lot of spiritual ‘seeds’, some of which have sprouted, been born again, starting their own lives? And have you provided shade, comfort to others around you and wisdom based upon your experience in bad weather over the years?
The second oak tree represents a season of Growth and Humbleness. This tree is about half that size of the larger one. It is relatively healthy but one of its drawbacks is the location. It is in the afternoon shade of the other, larger oak. I see one application of that factor as if it benefits from the protection the big tree provides and see it as we are in the “shadow of the Almighty”. It is in a humbling position, under and adjacent to the much larger one. This tree is healthy, growing and attracting a few birds.
If you see yourself in this smaller tree, then recognize that you might not be as outstanding as other Christians but you are still providing wisdom to others. Humble yourself and He will lift you up. You still look for opportunities to drop a few acorns along the way. And you can provide shade, comfort to those near you.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
The third oak tree represents a season of Testing and Trials. It is the smallest of the three. It stands about five feet. It lives with one significant disadvantage. Although there is good soil near the top of the ground, below that is hard pan, then below that are huge boulders. It really struggled for the first couple of years, and now is coming along. It comes to life each Spring, growing beautiful dark green leaves. Although it is not as big and impressive as the other two trees, it IS growing and occasionally dropping an acorn or two.
Are you seeing yourself in this example living in hard times? Like you’ve heard it said before…”bloom where your planted”. God is using you to reach others where the other trees cannot. He will continue to meet your needs in the hard times. And consider the encouraging words of Jesus regarding the results of your faith.
Luke 13:18,19 Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.”
As a teen ager my mother taught me a valuable lesson using trees as an example. I remember a moment vividly when she took me to the back yard, pointed up to the trees and said “son, see how those tree branches sway back and forth, moving with the winds. They are flexible, bending with the weather so they don’t break”. Like my mother, she knew that I am also a perfectionist, thinker/planner. At that time in my life, I had a very hard time accepting change or things that didn’t go a certain way. I still strive to accept the ’weather’ God allows in my life, being flexible to His will and His way.
May God help us as we strive to be like Him.
Psalms 92:12-14 “…the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the LORD’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.”
This week’s Scripture:
Psalm 1:1-3; Luke 13:18,19; James 4:10 and Psalms 92:12-14
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