Through my sliding door I saw the large oak tree swaying in the turbulent winds. The gusts bellowed through its limbs blowing away the weak branches and autumn leaves. But the oak tree remained deeply rooted in place. I want to be like the branches that stayed attached to the tree, bending but never breaking. Don’t you too?
Apart from our Heavenly Father we can do nothing. Fears of the future may blow through our minds. Yet we’ll choose to remain in Him, so those fears will not take hold of our present. When dealing with others, let’s sacrifice our offence for a chance to show His love.
In the past, storms have shaken our faith but we have NEVER been forsaken. Continue to be nourished with the Living Water, so that during the storms and after the pruning, we will push though the emotions to produce good fruit with a loving attitude. We should teach our children to have the same kind of faith, so our family will produce good fruit for generations.
Scripture Reading:
John 15:1-17
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 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.
5 “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. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 YOU DID NOT CHOOSE ME, BUT I CHOSE YOU and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Reflection:
How do you typically react when storms unexpectedly blow through your life?
Remembering past blessings sharpen our faith. List past blessing that God has done for you!
Be the Oak ~