Two trees stand, one looking away from the other as if in argument. No, I am not suggesting trees are human in any stretch of the imagination, but they seem to fascinate me with there individual shapes.
“When you besiege a city for a long time, making war against it in order to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them. You may eat from them, but you shall not cut them down. Are the trees in the field human, that they should be besieged by you?
Arguments are frequently the destroyer of any relationship or the destroyer of someone feeling at peace. Perhaps we might want to think that everyone is a tree that can feed us so why would we cut them down with arguments said in hate, or anger. Why would we attack someones reputation if that person could be of benefit to us.
The world is a wonderful gift to us and we have to look after it, but how much more do we have to look after each other.
‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honour Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
I am no saint, and I frequently hear myself talking about someone in a detrimental way. I frequently take an axe to someone who can feed me. Why do I do this? Because I am a sinner. knowing I am a sinner and that I ask forgiveness from God, and that Jesus paid the price for my sin gives me comfort – but it doesn’t excuse my sin or the shame or the consequences.
All sin will have consequences but Jesus will lead you through life using these mistakes for God’s benefit. For God’s glory.
Let us go out drawing near to all peoples with our heart and mouth, building all up, leaving everyone in no doubt that our life is God led, and that the God we are following is God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen
with blessings
Graham
365 Exhortations 