My booklet this morning has a great word picture in it of people being like trees that need sunlight. It is winter and the trees are full of sap but are not so great to look at because they have no leaves. Some trees, like evergreens, have leaves all year round but others are barren until they get some sunlight in the right season.
There are people who are struggling with addiction but if they had a season of warmth and sunlight they might just blossom.
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." - Romans 10:17 ESV
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
Faith is a gift and a fruit produced by the sunshine of God. There are no rules against it just as there are no rules against an apple tree producing apples. If conditions are right there will be apples.
Sure. People can resist. But all some folks need is a little sunlight and the years of past investment is activated and they blossom.
Some marriages need sunshine. People can get caught up in materialism. Life can become about having more or doing more and the couple loses track of an eternal value system based on love so the relationship gets barren.
Jesus said...
"As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." - John 9:5 ESV
He was sunlight shining into a dark place when He came to Earth.
Now He says...
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." - Matthew 5:14 ESV
Maybe a young person just needs a season of sunshine. Maybe an older person forgotten in a nursing home needs some sunshine. Maybe that is all a discouraged person needs.
"This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." - 1 John 1:5 ESV
"Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment." - Isaiah 50:11 ESV
People can make sun lamps and grown plants under those lamps but there is no substitute for the light that our soul needs. We need the grace gift in order to blossom. We need the love of God that shines from people and from His mind imparted to us to produce life in us.
"But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall." - Malachi 4:2 ESV
Yes. We need to be free from the prison of shadow. Jesus has healing in His wings.
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