Leaves Part 4

September 25, 2019 by Cee Maria in Word for Wednesday

Revelation 22:1-2 NIV

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

John’s vision

The vision above was experienced by the Apostle John who was imprisoned on the island of Patmos circa 90 A.D. He was translated to heaven and saw the river, that flowed from the throne of God, in the middle of the great street of Heavenly Jerusalem. Water from this river had zero toxins and was completely pure and clear as crystal.

The Tree of Life
The Tree of Life is the same tree that Adam and Eve were prohibited from eating in the Garden of Eden. It is so large that its trunk and root system spread across both sides of the river. Every month it miraculously bears a new crop of fruit. In the Heavenly city, the tree offers fruit to those who believe and worship the One true God and His Son Jesus the Messiah.

Heaven’s calendar
It appears that there is a time table in the measurement of months and and twelve month years in Heaven, but different than our earthly calendar. Second Peter tells us that one day is as a thousand years to the Lord (2 Peter 3:8).

Therapeutic healing
The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. The word ‘healing’ is the word ‘therapy’ or ‘therapeutic’ in English (1). What is implied here is that there will be treatment and a cure between peoples from different countries. Therapy that will help us to understand and appreciate each others customs and lifestyles, not only in our lifetime but from the beginning of time. How leaves will supply this remedy, I am not sure. But, someday we will participate and benefit from this wonderful service.

Everything that God touches emanates life, brings healing, and promotes pure love, even the leaves on the tree.

That’s what leaves mean in this verse.

References:

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G2322&t=NIV

Leaves Part 3

September 19, 2019 by Cee Maria in Word for Wednesday

Jeremiah 17:8 NLT

But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

Those who put their trust, confidence, and security in the Lord are blessed. Blessed here means live with an abundance of God’s goodness, mercy, favor, health, and wealth.

Trees planted along a riverbank

Not many types of vegetation can survive in the riverbank. Because banks are steep, even if a seed manages to sprout, the smaller and weaker plants will just wash away. But the tree can withstand the water level and grow deep roots that help slow down erosion and stabilize the top layer of soil. Riverbanks lined with trees create a buffer zone and reduce flooding (1).

The blessed person are like a tree planted beside a riverbank

When someone trusts in God, and are secure in His character and His Word, they face life and its challenges that others would deem as hopeless. They are rooted deep in their faith and each experience or challenge causes their roots to grow deeper. When bad times come, their relationship with God buffers them from losing faith and gives them patience to wait for His divine intervention.

Leaves

The leaves of the tree create shade lowering the temperature of the air, and aid in the cooling of the surrounding soil. Oxygen, the life supporting component of air and the most abundant element in the earth’s crust, is produced by leaves. Leaves also absorb pollutants from the air. At the end of a tree’s life cycle, it's trunk, branches, and leaves deteriorate, break apart, and drop into the river. Fallen tree parts generate a healthy habitat for marine life (1).

The blessed person are like leaves that remain green and never die

Just as shade cools and refreshes the soil, when the word of God is applied to any situation, we are refreshed by the truth, wisdom, and perspective it provides.

Leaves producing oxygen is an analogy for the Word of God that provides life. In fact, someone who submits and adheres to God’s words are like leaves that never die because they are so filled with life, God’s creative miracle working power. The miraculous is not only evident in their own lives, but spills over to those who are connected to them.

When someone is filled with God’s word, they have the ability to screen pollutants, or have the discernment to judge what is false or evil. Their filter gives them ability to pray accurately and act appropriately in order to change situations that are contrary to God’s will.

Leaves determine the size and the nutritional value of the fruit (1). God is saying that this person will always produce fruit, even when they leave this earth because of the legacy of faith they leave behind.

That’s what leaves mean in this verse.

References:

1) https://northsantiam.org/six-good-reasons-to-plant-trees-beside-a-strea/

Leaves Part 2

September 11, 2019 by Cee Maria in Word for Wednesday

Daniel 4:12 NLT

It had fresh green leaves, and it was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. All the world was fed from this tree.

The Dream

Let’s give the context of this verse. Daniel, a prophet of the Old Testament, was one of the satraps under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. One night, the King had a dream about an enormous tree with healthy leaves, fruitful, flourishing, and provided food and shelter for everyone. In the second half of the dream, an angel decreed for the tree to be chopped down to a stump and remain that way for seven years. Summoning all of his satraps and magicians, he wanted the interpretation of that dream. Only Daniel was able to give the King it's meaning.

Symbolism
Very disturbed by the context, Daniel gave the King a warning. The flourishing tree was a symbol of Nebuchadnezzar. God had blessed him and gave him the land that he had conquered. But, he is being warned that his weakness will be his downfall.

Pride before a fall

One year later, Nebuchadnezzar was strolling on his rooftop admiring the view. Full of himself, he credited Babylon and all of it's magnificent structures to be built by his own mighty power and for his own prominence. The moment he elevated himself above God, the devil had the authority to torture him. He lost his mind and remained insane for seven years.

God exalts the humble

But over time, deep within his soul, Nebuchadnezzar humbled himself before Almighty God. The moment he gave God the eminence He deserved, the devil lost permission to torment his mind. Once again, the tree that symbolized King Nebuchadnezzar, was enormous with healthy leaves, fruitful, flourishing, and provided food and shelter for everyone.

Pay attention to divine warnings
Let’s consider the goodness of God. When we are about to step over the line and take credit for our successes, He will alert us in a way that we will understand. He will never dominate our wills, so we may receive a divine dream warning us to choose wisely. God does everything in His power so we can remain blessed and be a blessing.

That’s what leaves mean in this verse.

Leaves Part 1

September 04, 2019 by Cee Maria in Word for Wednesday

Genesis 3:7 NLT

At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

Adam and Eve had just committed the original sin, they wanted to exalt themselves above God by determining their own standards of good and evil. Consequently, this was their first experience with the emotion of shame. The intention of their hearts was exposed for all to see. The glory of God that once enveloped their physical bodies was gone.

The fig tree has rather large leaves. Adam and Eve had never slaughtered an animal or tanned their hides. They haven’t processed any of the plants to create fibers that would produce material. It wasn’t needed, until now. Poking holes in the leaves and threading them together, they created a rather flimsy garment to hide their guilt.

God looked for them in the garden and addressed their situation. With great sorrow, He informed them of the consequences of actions. Compassionately, God restored their self respect by slaughtering an animal to make clothes of skin. Because of His great love for them, God banished them from the garden so they wouldn’t remain in an eternal state of sin and under it's horrific curse.

When we see the fig tree and it's large waving leaves, we are reminded of God’s unconditional love for us. True love covers our vulnerabilities and always does what is best for others, especially in difficult and seemingly impossible circumstances.

That what leaves mean in this verse.