Saved From A Tree

Look at all these occasions where Jesus brought salvation to people who were found under a tree, up a tree and hanging on a tree. You can see the progression we make as we turn our lives over to Christ. At some point, we are skeptics - we question if Jesus is who He says He is. We move on to seeking the truth until we realize that we are sinners who have no power to save ourselves. We finally meet the only one who has the power to save us from sin and eternal separation from the Father:

Jesus saved a man He saw under a tree - this man was a skeptic:

John 1:46-49 (NKJV)

And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"

Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to

him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"

Jesus saved a man He found up in a tree - this man was a seeker:

Luke 19: 4-6 (Message)

So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.

When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home."

Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him.

Jesus saved a man who was hanging on a tree - this man was a sinner:

Luke 23:40-43 (NKJV)

But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?

And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong."

Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."

And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

Jesus saved all mankind from a tree - this man is our savior:

Galatians 3:13 (NLT)

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

During this Easter season - come and look again at the One who embraced death on your behalf so that you could live as a friend of God. Come to the tree of salvation.

Good Friday 2013

I want to re-post this article from late last year - so timely for Good Friday:

When we say that something is "excruciating," we are actually referring to a word that can be traced back to Latin:

"ex" was used to intensify a verb, and "cruciare" meaning to torture or crucify. "Ex" can also mean "out of." 

In other words the english word "excruciating" hides this beautiful mention of the cross (Latin: "crucis" or "crux") There was no word to describe the horrors of the cross, so the word "excruciating" came to mean the harshest and most horrific torture known to man.

The Gospels don't go into details of the horror of the cross - just the power of the cross. We are called to focus on the victory of calvary. It never ceases to amaze me that the Lord became my sin and took the excruciating punishment upon HImself - all so that I can live life without the penalty I deserve.

2Cor. 5:21 For He made HIm who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

...And I conclude with one of my all-time favorite hymns by Isaac Watts: "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross." Are there any words outside the Bible itself that are more poignant than these?

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of glory died,


My richest gain I count but loss,


And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,


Save in the death of Christ my God!


All the vain things that charm me most,


I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands,

His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!


Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,


Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,


That were a present far too small;


Love so amazing, so divine,


Demands my soul, my life, my all.

- Isaac Watts -

Noble Plans

There is something special about Bible verses that mention a single word three times. Here is a great verse about noble people who make noble plans:

Isaiah 32:8 (NIV)

But the noble man makes noble plans,

and by noble deeds he stands.

Noble plans are

Plans that are inspired by God

Plans that give glory to God

Plans that build the Kingdom of God

Plans that build blessing and dignity into others

Plans that are bigger than your ability to make happen—they require great faith

Plans that pursue wise counsel (you may make mistakes)

Plans filled with expectancy

Plans filled with faithfulness

Plans filled with peace and patience

Plans filled with integrity

Plans filled with excellence

Plans that will cause you to complete what you start

The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts.

Think only on those things that are in line with your principles

and can bear the full light of day.

The content of your character is your choice.

Day by day, what you choose, what you think, and what you do

is who you become.
Your integrity is your destiny—

it is the light that guides your way.

Heraclitus—Greek Poet, Philosopher

As we consider making noble plans - make sure you commit all your ways to the Lord - allow Him to fill your imagination and dreams with His thoughts and excellence. The Lord has noble plans for each of us:

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord,

thoughts of peace and not of evil,

to give you a future and a hope.