Monday, December 10, 2012

Reflect His Glory by Abiding in Him

When Danny brought our live tree into the house it was wrapped up tight so that the limbs wouldn’t get broken during travel from the tree farm to the store.  That made it easy to manage from the store to the house as well. But once inside that tree needed to have its bindings removed.  By the time I got home, the tree was looking quite full.

Danny had cut the binding loose, sat the tree in a reservoir stand and positioned it just right.  Throughout the day he had poured water into the reservoir – several gallons by that evening. The tree was not only bound up, it was thirsty. As it took in water it also began to branch out, and display its true splendor.  We thought it looked like a good tree with a straight strong trunk, but you never know how it will look once you get it home.  This tree was beautiful. The care we are giving it, fresh water daily and vacuuming up any needles around, decking it out with all our finest decorations, has given it a truly regal look.

We’re a lot like a store bought Christmas tree. For many, days are spent going from one destination to another. There are ballgames, piano lessons, homework, office management, car repair, vacuuming, dusting, washing, and more. There are issues and problems everywhere. Misunderstandings, misgivings, misappropriations, mistakes and more. More bills, more broken things needing fixed. We find ourselves being tossed around as we go from one problem to another, one appointment to another, one destination to another. Before you know it, we can be bound up as tightly as that Christmas tree. 

But when we come into the house of the Lord, into the presence of Jesus, we begin to unwind. He takes our bound up lives and begins to remove those things that have us so bound up. Just as He laid aside the grave clothes, we too are able to lay aside those things that bind us.  He also gives us living water so that we never have to thirst again, even in the dry days of disappointment or discouragement.  He sets us securely in His Word so that our reservoir of living water never goes dry.

Oh beloved, let God take you into His presence! Let Him lovingly apply the Word to your life so that you can move freely and show all the splendor a child of God can show! You were meant to be lovingly displayed as His precious possession. You were meant to live a full and beautiful life.  All you have to do is let God take the bindings from your heart and life. Let Him love you as you were meant to be loved. Let Him feed you and care for you as only He can. What wondrous love is this that the Lord of Heaven and Earth has picked you and set you securely in His Presence to show His glory all the days of your life! What absolute care is yours as He is your Caretaker. He will never grow tired of you, you will never dry up and be thrown away! For His care is Eternal! You are His beloved and His love and care is your path to true beauty and true rest. Rejoice!

Deuteronomy 14:2 You have been set apart as holy to the LORD your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.

Psalm 94:18 I cried out, "I am slipping!" but Your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me.

2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.

Isaiah 41:9 I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, 'You are my servant.' For I have chosen you and will not throw you away.

Psalm 92:12 But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.

Psalm 73: 23-25, 28 Yet I still belong to You; You hold my right hand.  You guide me with Your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but You? But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do.

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