Fertilizer

NOVEMBER 19

MATTHEW 7:19_and cast into the fire.

In the parable of the fig tree I see Jesus as the vine dresser. The needs you have in life require fertilizer. 

If you feel like your life does not and has not produced fruit—don’t panic. You are not about to be cut down and cast into the fire. Jesus sees your potential because He knows your created purpose. He wants to work in and teach your heart through the Bible. Jesus longs for you to hear His words and know the truth. And knowing the truth will make you … you guessed it … free!

This is freedom from believing the devil’s lies. 

Lies that make the tree (your life) wither.

If you believe anything negative about your created life—you’re withering.

If you believe that you were not created with a purpose in life—you’re withering.

If you believe you can never personally know God—you’re withering.

If you believe Jesus does not have the power to give you eternal life—you’re withering.

If you believe your physical afflictions or defects can keep you from achieving God’s purpose—you’re withering.

If you believe your lack of finances can keep you from achieving God’s purpose—you’re withering.  

All of these things cause you to come to God with your needs. God meets your needs with the fertilizers of faith and trust.

PRAYER

King Eternal, Please help me see that my needs increase my faith. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.    

Christ uses my needs to draw me closer – To Him!

The Final Nail

NOVEMBER 15

MATTHEW 7:18_neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Jesus drives the final nail to secure the truth. It is not enough to know that good is good and evil is evil. We must grasp that the two cannot cross over into each other. 

Good can never be evil, neither evil ever be good. If we’ve made the broad path to destruction our source, and we want to get off—it will require a total change. Repentance. We can’t just remain on the broad path and some day it will lead us to a life of freedom. The broad path always leads to destruction. That’s how this creation principle works. A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit.  

The total change to get off the broad path is to leave it. Enter the strait gate and walk the narrow path. You cannot remain on the narrow path and fall into destruction. The narrow path always leads to a life of freedom. That’s how this creation principle works. 

One more time—it’s about the source! The broad path is the source to destruction and can be nothing else. The narrow path is the source to life and can be nothing else. Don’t get confused that people are the source. People will become what their source is..

Those whose source is the narrow path can be trusted—mistakes and all.              

PRAYER

Savior, I need discernment to know the people I can trust. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.     

Christ can always be trusted—I will follow Him!

The Source of Power

NOVEMBER 10

MATTHEW 7:17_but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

The word corrupt in this verse means subject to decay. To decay is to rot. Dead to the life and abilities once possessed. A tree that is in the process of decay may still bring forth fruit, but it is not good for consumption.

The condition of the fruit is the same as the the condition of the tree which produces it. The strength of the tree determines the strength of the fruit.

In the same way, the weakness of the tree determines the weakness of the fruit. It’s all about the tree—the vine—the source of power. If you go anywhere other than the Bible for the source of connecting with the Holy God of Heaven—you’ve gone to a weak source.

Psalm 60:11-12 (KJV), “Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.12 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.” Now that’s a powerful source! 

It’s not that you should not go to people when you need help—everyone needs a little help from their friends. The problem comes when people are your primary source. When you place all your trust in what people can do, and never seek God’s help.

It’s all about the source!        

PRAYER

Holy Master, I want You to be the primary source of all I am and need. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.              

Christ is The Source—He wants to be mine!    

Priceless and Unsurpassed

SEPTEMBER 27

MATTHEW 7:6_lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

This is not a lesson against pigs or dogs. It is a lesson on the priceless and unsurpassed value of your faith and trust in Jesus. The pathway of life He has been teaching in these three chapters.

To have the teachings of Jesus poured into you only to cast them aside for temporal pleasures, is a waste. Jesus compares His teachings to that which is holy. He also compares them to pearls—of the very highest quality. To throw His words out to dogs and pigs, like table scraps is deplorable.

Once you’ve learned the truth and rejected it, or worse cheapened it by trying to live spiritually and worldly at the same time, you’ve strayed from the path. There is something you can count on—life itself will in some form or another come back and rend you under foot. You can live life like this the rest of your days, or you can cry out to God to save you. 

Luke 15:20 (KJV), “And he [prodigal son] arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”

God’s compassion is stronger than an earthly father’s.

PRAYER

Father of Compassion,  I praise You that You call me back if I go astray! In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                                                    

Christ’s pathway has unsurpassed value—He guides me!

Trust Comes with Accountability

SEPTEMBER 11

MATTHEW 7:3_And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

In Jesus’ Matthew chapter 18 (KJV) parable, the wicked servant was more consumed with the penny owed him than the million plus he owed.

There is more here than money, there’s mercy.  Oh, that we were consumed with mercy!

A debtor is expected to pay a legal debt. Trust comes with accountability. God who searches and knows all hearts, has the privilege to have mercy – even to the legitimately guilty.

Read again verses “26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.’ 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.”    

The wicked servant could only see the wrong which was done to him. He could not see the mercy he had freely received. “29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.’ 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.”

He could not see mercy because … where his treasure was there was his heart also.

PRAYER

King of All Kings, Let me see my beam more than my brother’s mote. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                   

Christ sees my beams—He will help me see them!