Todays text:
Matthew 12:33 - "for by its fruit the tree is known"
Where can we find the true worship? Well, the criterion is the bible. If we find a group that tries to live according to bible principles and apply everything that is written down, than this should be the true worship.
People can say there are different groups that believe in the bible, but do they all apply everything?
One of the commands in the bible to go preaching, who is doing that? Which group is known worldwide for going preaching as indicated in the bible.
Well, there is 1 organization that is well known for it. Jehovah's witnesses.
There is a whole structure to enable people from all over the world to get to know Jehovah and his word the Bible.
Of course the organization is human, so it is expected to make mistakes.
But if you carefully study the bible and try to find a group that honestly tries to live according to the principles, than only Jehovah's witnesses can pass the test.
much love,
Barry[/b]
Thank you for sharing your thoughts this morning on the daily text, Barry.
There are times when persons are described as trees in the Bible. For example, the writer of Jude speaks about certain ones in the congregation that are "shepherds that feed themselves without fear." (Jude 12). He goes on to say that these wicked shepherds are as "trees in late autumn, fruitless." The impression that the writer of Jude seems to want to leave his reader with is not so much in appying the term to the Christian congregation as much as to the individuals within that congregation. The world has an expression about "seeing the forest for the trees." The Christian congregation is the forest, but that forest is made up of trees. And just as when you walk through the woods that are in a park or near your home, you'll gain an appreciation for what the writer of Jude is trying to say--and Jesus as well. As a whole, the forest (or woods) may appear beautiful and inviting. But inside, upon closer inspection, you can see rotting trees, old and twisted trees, as well as healthy ones. Depending on the dominance of the unhealthy trees or the healthy ones, the overall health of the forest is either thriving or diminishing.
It's the same with our Christian congregation. Depending on the sort of trees that compose our "woods," we may find ourselves in a thriving forest... or in a diminishing one.
The Carpenter, whose task it is to examine the forest for the trees, so to speak, will assess the situation and then collect the trees therein that can be used by him as the Master Worker, and afterwards, the worthless trees will be cut down and burned up.
So, going back to the scripture under consideration today, what sort of tree are we, personally? What are the fruitages that come from our branches? Whatever they may be, that is what others will know us for. We may produce beautiful apples in appearance, but are they bitter when tasted? If so, then we should pray that our God give us what we need so that we not only produce apples that are beautiful to behold, but taste refreshing and pleasing when given to others in the form of nourishing encouragement. What are the fruitages that we want to produce, as trees in Jehovah's forest? Paul, in his letter to the brothers in Galatia, provides us with the answer: [b]the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23, NWT)
And certainly we want to pray to Jehovah that our roots run deep in good soil, so that when storms arise and the winds of change blow hard, we aren't toppled over and left to rot on the forest floor. Other trees that surround us are struggling upwards for the sunlight, and we need to as well, so that we can thrive and produce still more fruitage.
And Oh! What a day, when the Carpenter comes and finds us a tree that he can't help but select for fashioning into something wonderful and magnificent, saying "See! This is what I made from one of the finest trees in my forest."
<div align="right">Criterion</div>