Reflection: ‘The family tree: the tree of life’

Trees! We can hardly see them for the forests-full. The Bible has over a thousand references to some kind of ‘wood’. But the one that ties them all together, the one that encapsulates healthy tree-stories and God’s epic story, is the Tree of Life.

Thank God! The Good News is Life!

Life — there for the taking in Eden’s garden goodness;

Life — a seed in prophesy

Life — rooted in people and promise

Life — fulfilled in Jesus

Life — taken in his sacrifice;

Life — again, for the taking through his resurrection;

Life — defining God’s new creation, God’s people and his kingdom.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, says Proverbs 11:30. In other words, when a tree does what it’s made to do, it’s truly alive. Paul urges the trees re-planted in Ephesus and Galatia (and us), ‘…if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise…’ (Galatians 3:29)

 So, do what you were born to do! (My paraphrase) You are all one in Christ, so be the forest you were made to be!

 Pause and consider with whom you have been planted.

Prayer:

Father, your command is our request. Help us by your Spirit:

To be completely humble and gentle; patient, bearing with one another in love.

To make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2-6)

And at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

Amen! Bring it on!