OUR DAILY BREAD : LIVING BRIDGES

[cimi]

July 18
Friday


LIVING
BRIDGES

READ:
Jeremiah 17:5-10
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Blessed is the man
who trusts in the LORD.
__Jeremiah 17:7
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People who live in Cherrapunji, India, have developed a unique way to get across the many rivers and streams in their land. They grow bridges from the roots of rubber trees. These "living bridges" take between 10-15 years to mature, but once they are established, they are extremely stable and last for hundreds of years.

The Bible compares a person who trusts in God to "a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river" (Jer. 17:8). Because its roots are well-nourished, this tree survives soaring temperatures. and during drought it continues to yield fruit.

Like a firmly rooted tree, people who rely on God have a sense of stability and vitality despite the worst circumstances. in contrast, people who place their trust in other humans often live with a sense of instability. The Bible compares them to desert shrubs that are frequently malnourished and stand alone (v.6). So it is with the spiritual lives of people who forsake God.

Where are our roots? Are we rooted in Jesus? (Col.2:7). Are we a bridge that leads others to Him? If we know Christ, we can testify to this truth: Blessed are those who trust in the Lord (Jer. 17:7). __Jennifer Benson Schuldt

````````````````````````````Jesus is all the world to me,`````````````````````
`````````````````````````````My life, my joy, my all;````````````````````````
````````````````````````He is my strength from day to day,```````````````````
```````````````````````Without Him I would fall. __Thompson````````````````
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Even strong trials cannot blow down
a person who is rooted in God.

***********************************Today's Bible Reading __ Jeremiah 17:5-10********************************

5 Thus says the LORD:
"Cursed is the man who
trusts in man and makes
flesh his strength, whose
heart departs from the
LORD. 6 For he shall be like a
shrub in the desert, and
shall not see when good
comes, but shall inhabit the
parched places in the
wilderness, in a salt land
which is not inhabited.

7 "Blessed is the man who
trusts in the LORD, and
whose hope is the LORD.

8 For he shall be like a tree
planted by the waters,
which spreads out its roots
by the river, and will not
fear when heat comes; but
its leaf will be green, and
will not be anxious in the
year of drought, nor will
cease from yielding fruit.

9 "The heart is deceitful
above all things, and
desperately wicked; who
can know it?

10 "I, the LORD, search the
heart, I test the mind, even
to give every man according
to his ways, according to
the fruit of his doings."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The heart is the very basis of character, including the mind and
will. Because of our sinful nature, the "heart is deceitful above all
things, and desperately wicked" (Jer. 17:9). Jeremiah debunked the
popular belief that people are basically good (cf. Job 25:4; Ps. 51:5).
That God examines and tests the heart is the consistent teaching
of Scripture (1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Chron. 28:9; 2 Chron. 6:30; Ps. 139:1-
2; Jer. 11:20; Rom. 8:27; Heb 4:12-13). Although we might try to
hide our innermost thoughts and motives from others, God sees. He
alone knows the true character of every person. God searches and
knows us, but loves us despite our inherit sinfulness.