Jul
15
Written by:
Bob Flynn
7/15/2009 5:45 AM
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. (Proverbs 11:30 KJV)
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls.
(Proverbs 11:30 NASB)
The fruit of the righteous is like a tree producing life, and the one who wins souls is wise. (Proverbs 11:30 NET.)
The godly are like trees that bear life-giving fruit, and those who save lives are wise. (Proverbs 11:30 NLT96)
Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing." (Ezekiel 47:12 NLT2Ed)
They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. (Psalms 1:3 NLT)
Ets chaiyim - the tree of life! The proverb speaks with a quiet thunder. Is this not the same tree that once in the garden that infused vigor into the sinews of those who partook of its blessing? For me in the stillness of the wee hours of the day just beginning the tree has a name, Jesus! Today I pray for one life saved, one soul snatched from the darkness.
I also know that there is a hole in the fuselage, a blow out in the body. Just like the airliner in yesterday's news, the church has been diverted from its primary course. Instead of lifesaving, it now sings a song that is pleasant to the ears of those who might be listening so as not to offend their sensibilities. The news proclaimed is pleasant to the eyes and promises to make one wise (Genesis 3:6) but is it the Gospel of life or its counterfeit, gospel lite?
What we see today portrayed as structural integrity (unity) is more like a thousand rivets flying in close formation pretending to be aluminum (an army of one instead of the army of the One). No wonder there are fatigue cracks and structural failures.
The gospel of today is one of emulation instead of transformation (fake it till you make it). The church of today has now been declared irrelevant and is the primary target of Bill Maher, Rosie O'Donnell and David Letterman of "the Late" Show who make their living being irreverent of everything as they ply their parasitic trade.
But if the Gospel is so inconsequential, why then the incoming flak? Those who scream the loudest are pained the most and have the greatest need to taste of the goodness which is Christ!
Will you, dear believer, pray with me for one soul saved?