DUMB AS SHEEP

        Even though we are more than sheep to God, thank God for His rod and His staff for they comfort me (Ps. 23:4). What is so comforting about a rod and a staff - nothing at first glance. The comfort comes in whose hands those sticks reside. Anybody else who has authority over me with disciplinary and protective powers I will always question and pray over. But those two traits, discipline and protection, in the care of Jesus, administers peace and love to the believer on their journey with Christ.

        Even though both sticks can be used to strike someone or something, the shepherd mainly used the rod for protecting the fold. The staff, the stick with a hook at the end was used for protective measures as in snatching sheep away from danger or gently hooking them back into the fold. 

        In Revelation 3:19, Christ says, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline." Notice what Christ did not say. He did not say, He would leave us or abandon us when we mess up, get in danger or outside forces threaten us. Hebrews 13:5 attests to the very opposite. 

        I think "rebuke" is often misunderstood for "forsake". There is a mindset I have witnessed many times where if one is corrected or told that their actions, thoughts or words were wrong then all was lost for them. This is a tragic deception. A rebuke is caring by someone enough to tell you something is wrong so you can take the necessary steps to change. The delivery of the rebuke needs to be considered, but the nature of it is still in the good interest of the incorrect. 

        Disciplining from God involves consequences for our actions, especially if we continue in our stubborn ways. However, disciplining also has a positive side in that God helps us set good, Godly habits to avoid sinful pitfalls. The Lord knows I am so grateful for being more than sheep. Plus, I am eternally thankful He is known to all Christians as The Great Shepherd because many, many times I can be Dumb As Sheep.

Godly Bubble (Revised)

         

        "Come out with your hands up, you are completely surrounded!" I never thought I would spiritualize that phrase, but that is how the Christian is to approach the beginning of each new day - hands up in surrender and praise, acknowledging God's presence all around us.

        In Isaiah 52:12 God's presence is positioned before and behind the believer.

"for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard." 

He prepares the way and protects the Christian's blindside. Therefore, the Lord takes care of a lot of unseen needs in the believer's life. Hindsight has revealed in my life that many times I was the one that got in the way of God's plan and/or protection.

        In Psalm 91:7, David speaks about a thousand falling at the believer's left hand and ten thousand at the believer's right hand. God's protective presence is displayed on either side of the believer.

"A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you."

        Also in John 14:26, John uses the Greek word parakletos as the descriptive word for the Holy Spirit who comes alongside of the believer as a counselor, comforter, advocate, and/or representative of the believer to God and God's Word to the believer.

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

        In Psalm 119:105, David says to the Lord,

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

David uses an analogy of two different kinds of illumination to express God's light, presence and word in his life. The "lamp" is used for illuminating near-sighted objects and a "light" for the long distance "path". The Christian needs the Holy Spirit directing or illuminating the daily steps and granting the believer vision for the future with the light on the path of life.

        In Deuteronomy 32:11 God is depicted as "an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft." So, Christians have divine protection and care from above also.

        Jesus speaks about the importance of His presence in the believer's life when He says,

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

        The Lord provides a protective bubble of His presence around His followers, but He also permeates the inside of this bubble. Paul addresses the Christians in Corinth concerning this, telling them that God's Holy Spirit is also within the believer.

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;" - 1 Corinthians 6:19

        Recognizing God's presence everyday and remaining thankful is a wonderful start to remaining in Him and Him in us so that we bear much fruit. Christians not only receive protective watch and care while remaining in Christ, but are productive for the kingdom in doing so.

        Above, below, in front, in back, left, right, or within - God's Presence completely envelopes and consumes the believer. Whether or not you deem yourself worthy of God's company, He has promised never to leave or forsake those who believe in Him (Heb. 13:5). In addition, for those that practice His presence daily, remaining in His ways, His favor is the result. The Christian lives life by recognizing and taking an active role in living, moving, and having our being in Him while Christ surrounds or envelopes the believer with His presence through a Godly Bubble (Acts 17:28).

A Multi-Fruited Tree

        

        Trees seem important to God. There was the Tree of Life, The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and The Tree of Salvation or Cross upon which Christ purchased humanity's redemption with His life.

        Speaking about life and trees, Jesus used an analogy in Matthew 7:17-20 to convey a message of lifestyle, mindset and attitude. He said, 

"...every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." 

        In Galatians 5:22-23 Paul encourages us to be a tree of many fruits. Joy is characterized as a wonderful fruit to bear in one's life, but he lists many more ingredients, characteristics or fruits that should flow from a believer's life. Remember our God is a God of abundance! Those other fruits God desires us to share with each other are love, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

        I believe the key to an excellent, fruit-producing, enjoyable, edifying tree and person is the Source of The Root System. Read what the Holy Spirit had David pen in Psalm 1:1-4 -

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers."

        Do you see the equation here? The one who guards the company he/she keeps and is completely enthralled with God's Word, turning it over and over in their mind during the day and night is like a Tree that is well nourished by Living Water producing its fruit at the proper time. The tree or person is also 
preserved by God which is shown in our spiritual, mental and physical attractiveness (leaf doesn't wither). Plus, God's favor is upon the life of the fruit bearing person or tree - "whatever they do prospers". 

        The pivotal point for the tree and person in being fruitful is proximity to the living water. The stream or water is called living not only because of the life-giving nutrients it provides but especially from whom the river flows - the Holy Spirit. John records Jesus speaking about this precious source of water - 

"Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'” - John 4:13-14

        Do your roots go to The River that never runs dry? What kind of tree are you? What kind of fruit do you produce? Does your life attract fruit lovers? Are you a tree of just one sort of fruit or are you A Multi-Fruited Tree?