OUR DAILY BREAD : LIKE A TREE

[cimi]

February 5
Friday


LIKE A TREE

READ:
Ephesians 4:11-16
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He shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of
water. __Psalm 1:3
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In the quietness of my final years I plan to watch a tree grow--a birch tree I planted as a tiny sapling over 30 years ago. It stands now in mature splendor, just outside our picture window--beautiful in every season of the year.

So it is with our spiritual endeavors: We may have planted, watered, and fussed over our "saplings" (those we've mentored) for a time, but only God can make a "tree."

Occasionally I hear from those I ministered to years ago, and discover to my delight that they have grown to maturity and have been greatly used of God--with no help from me. It's a gentle reminder that I plant and water for a while, and help others "grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ" (E[h. 4:15). But only God "gives the increase" (1 Cor. 3:6-7).

German theologian Helmut Thielicke writes, "The man who doesn't know how to let go, who is a stranger to quiet, confident joy in Him who carries out His purposes without us (or also through us or in spite of us), in Him who makes the trees grow...that man will become nothing but a miserable creature in his old age."

So, at my age, I may yet tend a sapling or two, but mostly I will let go and watch them grow. __David Roper
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```````````A PRAYER: Lord, I want to be used by You in others' ``````
````````````lives. Teach me from Your Word so that I can help```````
```````````````others follow You. And enable me to let go``````````
``````````````````and trust You to work in them. Amen.```````````
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Those who follow Christ can help others
follow Him too.

************Today's Bible Reading __ Ephesians 4:11-16***********

11 And He Himself gave
some to be apostles, some
prophets, some evangelists,
and some pastors and
teachers, 12 for the
equipping of the saints for
the work of ministry, for the
edifying of the body of
Christ, 13 till we all come to
the unity of the faith and of
the knowledge of the son of
God, to a perfect man, to
the measure of the stature
of the fullness of Christ;

14 that we should no longer
be children, tossed to and
fro and carried about with
every wind of doctrine, by
the trickery of men, in the
cunning craftiness of
deceitful plotting. 15 but,
speaking the truth in love,
may grow up in all things
into Him who is the head--
Christ-- 16 from who the
whole body, joined and knit
together by what every joint
supplies, according to the
effective working by which
every part does its share,
causes growth of the body
for the edifying of itself in
love.

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

Many Bible commentators see in today's Bible reading a pattern for
ministry in the local church. It is the responsibility of gifted leaders
(v.11) to equip believers so that they can effectively do the work of
the ministry (v.12). This philosophy harmonizes well with the New
Testament imagery of spiritual giftedness--for all believers, not just
leaders, are given spiritual gifts for service. Developing those gifts is
key to effective ministry, and everyone is challenged to be involved.
__BILL CROWDER