Forever-Fellowship
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A few years ago – fifteen, to be exact, I bolted chain around oak trees in order to hang sky chairs. I don’t know how often the chairs have been used, but probably not enough to merit the damage that may have been done. A tree guy told me to look up at the tops of those trees. “See how they are thinning on top?” “It’s due to those chains.” You need to get those cut.”
This made me wonder if maybe my hair is thinning due to pulling my belt too tight. So now I loosen it a notch, though I haven’t noticed any improvement. Oh, and I cut the chain in a few places, except on one oak where the chain was just too deeply embedded, risking even more damage. Let’s hope the nutrients can make it up to the top around the outside of the chain.
There ought to be a spiritual application here somewhere. How about this: “The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.” (Luke 8:14 NAS95) The parallels are not exact, but certainly “worries and riches and pleasures” can choke out the flow of “spiritual” nutrients in our life.
Or do you remember Samson, who, having given up the secret of his strength, was captured by the Philistines? “Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze chains, and he was a grinder in the prison.” (Judges 16:21 NAS95) What a shame, that one so gifted as a deliverer, should spend the remainder of his life doing donkey’s work. And yet, there is hope for the chained: “Shake yourself from the dust, rise up, O captive Jerusalem; Loose yourself from the chains around your neck, O captive daughter of Zion.” (Isaiah 52:2 NAS95) Perhaps you too, chained by this or that sin, may through repentance and faith receive forgiveness and freedom.
God delights in freeing us from those bondages, no matter how deeply embedded, which choke out spiritual health and lead us quietly, speedily toward death. If he can free Peter from prison, then he can free you, too: “Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands.” (Acts 12:6–7 NAS95)
Dogs and Pigs Our verse for consideration is this: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”(Matthew 7:6 NAS95). These are words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, and they […]
We were designed to become like what we worship. What fills our thoughts throughout the day? What do we love or long for? This book is for those who want to become like Christ–for those who want to meditate on his beauty but who need help to do so. In this devotional work, Kris Lundgaard […]