Drawing Close

Readings:

Genesis 4

Genesis 5

Genesis 6

Genesis 8

Genesis 9

Genesis 10

Genesis 11

Matthew 2

Matthew 3

Psalm 3

Matthew 3:10 NLT
Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.

Good fruit is quite different than a religious/pious life or a life focused on less sin. Paul encourages us in Romans 7:24-25 that starts out “O wretched man that I am…” and in 1 Tomothy 1:15 where he proclaims “I am chief among sinners”.

The Way is not just about turning away from sin that hands is and others, it is about living close with God. We see this distinction about both Enosh and Noah who walked with God. We too are called to walk with God, to personally seek and know Him. He is not just our Lord, not just our Savior, not just Father God, but He is also our Friend.

It is this walk with Him that produces fruit that others around us get to enjoy — not works of our own hands, but supernatural nourishment provide to others by the Holy Spirit working through us.

Like Peter’s shadow healing the sick in Acts 5:14-16 and “miracles following those who believe” mentioned in Mark 16:17-20 — God uses those He loves and that love Him to be a blessing to those around us — just as He models in Israel to be a blessing to the nations (Gen 12, Gen 18:18, Gen 22:18, Jer 4:2, Zech 8:12).

Isn’t it so much more amazing that God does work through us to bear fruit than just some demand that we be good enough to earn or prove our worth and value to Him? Being in His presence changes us, and He is responsible for the good works He prepared for us in advance, and even for our salvation, so that none of us should boast our get puffed up in religious pride.

What a wonderful, awesome, amazing God we serve, and know, and love. Amen.

And what about when it “feels” like a curse more than a blessing? What if we are hungry for nourishment ourselves, hurting, grieving, suffering?

He is the God that both builds up and tears down — and in all of it there is purpose. Jeremiah 1:10, Jeremiah 31:28, and Jeremiah 45:4

I love the song “Though you Slay Me” by Shane and Shane, and especially love the Son excerpt from John Piper where he voices the spirit of Job 13:15 that even in our suffering and pain, God is renewing us day by day (as 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 teaches).

John Piper says, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

So if we are in this current moment of grief, of suffering, of trial. of discipline, or “whatever does not feel good in the moment”, we can seek to understand in the perspective of eternity, not just feelings in a moment.

In fact, in these times, we are drawn to find our comfort in Him and not the things of this world.

Thank you Jesus!