Day 1 - For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure. - Philippians 2:13 [Amplified version]
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Throughout the Bible, trees are used to represent Godly examples of the Lord’s people. Jeremiah 17 says “her leaves are always green”. Proverbs 3 refers to “trees of life”. Isaiah 61 says that “we will be called Oaks of Righteousness for the Lord’s splendor”.
Yet trees are never seen frantically running around, worried, preening or even applying miracle grow to themselves. In fact, when you study a tree, you might note instead that each of them is born with a crown, even before it appears. Their arms are always raised and their usefulness and beauty multiplies as it ages. So long as it remains in the Son’s light, as intended.
The Bible also tells us that we have fruit and that others will know us by it. Instead of peaches and blossoms, we will one day produce, love, joy peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Matthew 6 tells us that the Lord provides for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns and yet our heavenly continues to provide for them. In just the same way, He is what produces the goodness within each tree. Whether it’s in the ground or within you or I.
Think about it
1. Do you spend as much time with the Lord meditating on what a scripture means to your life as you do memorizing the order of the words? Or the same amount of time trying to get in the presence of the Lord as you do getting perfect attendance at school?
2. What if simply being obedient to the things that the Lord wanted you to do, made all of your other efforts that much better. As if while you were taking care of his commands, he was taking care of your other tasks. Trusting him to strengthen you his way, allowed you to produce a better result elsewhere, even if there was less time or resources?
3. How much of your day is spent in the Son’s light? What would you need to change/rearrange in order to get more time in it? Are you willing to do it, why or why not?
1. Do you spend as much time with the Lord meditating on what a scripture means to your life as you do memorizing the order of the words? Or the same amount of time trying to get in the presence of the Lord as you do getting perfect attendance at school?
2. What if simply being obedient to the things that the Lord wanted you to do, made all of your other efforts that much better. As if while you were taking care of his commands, he was taking care of your other tasks. Trusting him to strengthen you his way, allowed you to produce a better result elsewhere, even if there was less time or resources?
3. How much of your day is spent in the Son’s light? What would you need to change/rearrange in order to get more time in it? Are you willing to do it, why or why not?
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These devotions are used during personal reflection time at the end of each day during Helping Hands Mission Camp.
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