The Bible makes quite a few references to trees. In Proverbs 3:18 we read that wisdom is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. King David taught us that if we meditate in the word we will be like a healthy, fruitful tree firmly planted in well-watered soil (Psalm 1:2-3). Another psalmist wrote that: “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon”. (Psalm 92:12; KJV).

Jesus also talked about trees; he said that trees would be recognized for their fruit (referring to our lives) (Matt 12:33). We learn in Revelation 22:2 that we will see the tree of life in heaven. So, what do we think of when we think of trees? I think of beauty, strength, support, a conduit for nourishment, life giving, a well-developed root system and fruit bearing.

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit” (Jer 17:7,8). Wow, that sounds good to me. We need to let this verse encourage us today - spend some time reading and meditating God's word and enjoy being blessed.

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Do you try to fight all your battles on your own? Moses and the children of Israel were trapped between the sea and Pharaoh’s army. As recorded in Exodus 14:13-14 (KJV), Moses told Israel: "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."

God's prophet spoke similar words to King Jehoshaphat when a great army came against the nation of Judah (2 Chron 20:1-24). God directed the king and his people to stand and watch him (God) fight the enemy. The king sent people to sing and praise God ahead of Judah's army and as the people sang God caused the enemy armies to destroy each other and brought a huge victory for Judah.

What is God telling us here? God is teaching us to trust him, trust his word, do things his way and then we will walk in victory every time. God directs us to cast our cares on him (1 Peter 5:7), rest in him (Matt 11:28-30); seek his word in the challenges we face. We need to set our faces (have faith) like flint on his promises (his word) and watch his word work in our lives. It cannot fail. Fighting our own battles without God is hard. Do it God's way.

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“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou have sent” (John 17:3; KJV).

What do you think of when you think of eternal life? I think most people would say it means life in heaven with God when we die and which even starts right here and now as we daily walk with Jesus. According to this verse eternal life means getting to know God. I assume that if we are going to spend eternity with God then we need to start getting to know him right now.

Obviously, that is not something we do just like that; we will spend the rest of our lives getting to know God. The Greek word for "know" is ginosko, which is coming to know God and his son in a personal way and experiencing Christ as our savior. We get to know God through his word, through prayer, worship and fellowship with him. No wonder Paul said in Philippians 3:10 that his major purpose in life was to get to know Jesus Christ more deeply and intimately, to share in his sufferings and to experience his life transforming power: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Phil 3:10).  As Christians that should be our goal too.

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God gave me a vision of a church full of people who had no revelation of God's word and no power to live the life he gives or change the world around them. He showed me these people leaving the church and going into the world; then I lost track of them, they were no different from everyone else.

My response was one of sadness that they missed out on all God had for them. God's response was a little different: "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold or hot: I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth" (Rev.3: 15-16; KJV).

Two stark verses but so worthy of our attention. Lukewarm is neither hot nor cold; these are the churchgoers sitting on the fence. Sitting on a fence must be uncomfortable. These people feel being in church is good insurance but they are not sold out for God. I am not sure how people can claim to be Christian if they are not sold out for God; if they are not hot. If people are cold, then at least they are honest and God can meet them at that point.

To be lukewarm is to be deceived, full of pride, trusting in our own resources (Rev 3:17), with no real perceived need of God. Notice, in verse 20 of chapter 3 of the book of Revelation, that Jesus pleads with people in the church to open the door of their lives to him, and take note he is addressing the church. We need him; only he is the source of abundant life (John 10:10) and the power to change us (Rom 8:11).

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.

We each of us are spiritual beings, living in a body and having a soul which is our mind, will and emotions (1 Thess 5:23). In the first letter of Peter chapter one, the apostle Peter talks about salvation. Salvation means to be spiritually reborn, born again or saved (John 3:3-8). We are saved from the spiritual death (Rom 6:23) that resulted from our sinful life prior to us becoming a Christian. We are spiritually saved or born again by repenting of sin and asking Jesus into our life as Lord and Savior (Acts 3:19; Rom 10:9-10). Salvation encompasses forgiveness, restoration, prosperity, protection, safety, healing, preservation, joy, eternal life and so much more. This is all available to us when we are saved and is referred to in 1 Peter 1:3.

However, verses 4,5 and 9, of the first chapter of the apostle Peter’s first letter, also refer to the promise of the completion of our salvation, or final salvation as we meet our Lord and savior in heaven at the end of our life on this earth. This is the continuation in heaven of our eternal life, which started when we asked Christ into our lives here on this earth.

The Apostle Peter also talks about how God by his power (Greek word dunamis, from which we get the English word, dynamite) keeps us in this present life (v 5). He works in us to grow and change us to be more like him (Phil 1:6) and to protect us and keep us for our final reward of eternal life in heaven (Ps 91:17a). Wow, what an awesome journey!

God has us covered; all we have to do is submit (James 4:7,8,10) and cooperate with him. How do we cooperate as Christians? Start with prayer and immersing yourself in the Bible.

Please pass this on. All right reserved.

Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.