Thursday of the Second Week of Lent - March 12
Jeremiah 17:5-10 Luke 16:19-31
I am a visual person so the metaphors and descriptions used in today’s reading from Jeremiah paint two very contrasting images in my mind. There’s the barren bush in a hot desert nourished by salt, and the lush fruit-bearing tree next to a life-sustaining stream. I place myself in both of the described environments to try and “feel” the difference. I want to be the healthy fruit tree receiving endless nourishment from a cool babbling stream; a stream that slowly meanders through a brilliant green meadow. I imagine a fruit-producing tree surrounded by little saplings poking their way through the dark soil. It is a very peaceful visual for me. I doubt that anyone doing this little mind exercise would ever prefer the barren desert option of standing in a “lava waste.”
The world gives us options every day to put our ultimate trust in something other than God. It may be a person, a system, a government, technology, money, or maybe even a sports team. Filling God’s spot in our hearts with something that isn’t God will deprive us of his grace. We will be that barren bush planted in lava waste that bears no fruit.
God has given us the gift free will, the freedom to put our trust in him. Those of us who choose to give our hearts to God will be forever nourished. We will withstand the hardships in our lives when we trust in God. We will be the vibrant fruit tree next to the beautiful stream.
Q: Will you choose to put your trust in God this Lenten season while blocking out the abundant distractions provided by our earthly surroundings?
I am a visual person so the metaphors and descriptions used in today’s reading from Jeremiah paint two very contrasting images in my mind. There’s the barren bush in a hot desert nourished by salt, and the lush fruit-bearing tree next to a life-sustaining stream. I place myself in both of the described environments to try and “feel” the difference. I want to be the healthy fruit tree receiving endless nourishment from a cool babbling stream; a stream that slowly meanders through a brilliant green meadow. I imagine a fruit-producing tree surrounded by little saplings poking their way through the dark soil. It is a very peaceful visual for me. I doubt that anyone doing this little mind exercise would ever prefer the barren desert option of standing in a “lava waste.”
The world gives us options every day to put our ultimate trust in something other than God. It may be a person, a system, a government, technology, money, or maybe even a sports team. Filling God’s spot in our hearts with something that isn’t God will deprive us of his grace. We will be that barren bush planted in lava waste that bears no fruit.
God has given us the gift free will, the freedom to put our trust in him. Those of us who choose to give our hearts to God will be forever nourished. We will withstand the hardships in our lives when we trust in God. We will be the vibrant fruit tree next to the beautiful stream.
Q: Will you choose to put your trust in God this Lenten season while blocking out the abundant distractions provided by our earthly surroundings?
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