MAY 2, 2014
Tree
Of Rest
Read: Ezra
9:5-9
There is a remnant according to the election of grace. —Romans 11:5
The lone tree in the field
across from my office remained a mystery. Acres of trees had been cut down so
the farmer could grow corn. But one tree remained standing, its branches
reaching up and spreading out. The mystery was solved when I learned the tree
was spared for a purpose. Farmers long ago traditionally left one tree standing
so that they and their animals would have a cool place to rest when the hot
summer sun was beating down.
At times we find that
we alone have survived something, and we don’t know why. Soldiers coming home
from combat and patients who’ve survived a life-threatening illness struggle to
know why they survived when others did not.
The Old Testament
speaks of a remnant of Israelites whom God spared when the nation was sent into
exile. The remnant preserved God’s law and later rebuilt the temple (Ezra 9:9).
The apostle Paul referred to himself as part of the remnant of God (Rom.
11:1,5). He was spared to become God’s messenger to Gentiles (v.13).
If we stand where
others have fallen, it’s to raise our hands to heaven in praise and to spread
our arms as shade for the weary. The Lord enables us to be a tree of rest for
others.
Thank You, Father,
that You are my place of rest.
And that all You have
brought me through
can be used by You to
encourage others.
Bring praise to
Yourself through me.
Hope can be ignited by
a spark of encouragement.
Insight
In the midst of the
joy of God’s grace in allowing a remnant to return to their homeland, Ezra
mourned. He mourned because the people of Israel were not only physically
distant from God, but spiritually distant as well. Yet God in His grace did
more than enable the physical return of the remnant; He also preserved a
spiritual remnant. Upon hearing the law of God, the people recommitted
themselves to Him (Ezra 10:1-4).
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
