Guard the Roots

~~~ Jeremiah 11:18-20 ~~~ Psalm 7 ~~~ John 7:40-53 ~~~ 

“Let us destroy the tree in its vigor;
let us cut him off from the land of the living,
so that his name will be spoken no more.”

Unfortunately plots to kill those who
believe in God are still taking place.

It is often in the news.
Not just members of religious orders,
but also lay people.

Those who plotted to kill Jesus are no
 different than those who plot evil today.

Killing those who hold the message of Jesus
does not stop the message.

Destroying the 'tree', Jesus,
did not stop the message of salvation.
Jesus acted on behalf of the Father
 and no earthly force would squelch the good news.

Those who plot evil do not understand where
the roots of the 'tree' are actually growing.

Our tree of faith must be safely
 and securely rooted in our soul.
The name of Jesus must ever be on our lips.
The Jesus Prayer is one way to make sure
we are among those who proclaim his name.

The guards answered,
 “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.”

The guards were caught up in the controversy over what
 they were being told and what they heard
from the mouth of Jesus themselves.

Nicodemus took a risk speaking out in defense of Jesus.
He too admitted that Jesus was not your ordinary
run of the mill preacher.

Jesus had a message of hope, love,
forgiveness, mercy, and compassion.

Jesus came to ignite a burning desire
within the hearts of all to strive toward a higher calling.

Nicodemus and the guard saw the face of truth
in Jesus. A person of great integrity not blindly
controlled by the letter of the laws.

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, 
who put darkness for light and light for darkness’ (Is 5:20). 

When our conscience is formed in truth
we will be uncomfortable when
it is violated in any manner.

This struggle today is just as real
as in the times of Jesus.

Blessed to be part of the living tree of God.
We can be a vital part of the harvest.

~~~Peace~~~