ODB: go beyond reading
October 11, 2009
READ: Colossians 3:12-17
As the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness . . . longsuffering. —Colossians 3:12
Pastor, where are the Our Daily Bread devotionals?” The words came harshly—almost in anger. The latest edition had not yet been placed in the rack outside the church auditorium. This led at least one reader to confront the pastor about their absence. Although it was not his responsibility to distribute the booklets, he felt terrible about the way this parishioner had reprimanded him for not making sure the devotional guides were there on time.
When I heard this, I was struck by the irony of this situation. Devotional booklets are meant to encourage Christian growth and godly grace. And as followers of Christ who read devotional materials, we hope we are moving toward spiritual maturity that leads to “tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering”—qualities Paul says we should “put on” (Col. 3:12).
Our spiritual disciplines—reading God’s Word along with accompanying study or devotional materials, prayer, and worshiping together—should not be ends in themselves. Instead, those actions are means to becoming more Christlike, more godly, more Spirit-led. Our spiritual practice should lead to having the “Word of Christ dwell in [us] richly” (3:16). That will show in everything we do and say. — Dave Branon
Bible study is not merely to inform us— it’s meant to transform us.
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Loading ...ODJ: the garden city
Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to . . . eat the fruit from the tree of life (v.14).
READ: Revelation 22:1-14
Singapore is a tiny tropical island of just under 640 square kilometers. Despite its soaring skyscrapers, it remains one of the cleanest and greenest cities in the world. Visitors find out quickly why Singapore is known as the Garden City of the Tropics. East Coast Parkway, the road from the airport to the city center, is sheltered by a tree canopy. Singapore has set its vision to transform itself from a “Garden City” to a “City in a Garden.” Singapore, my home, is a beautiful island.
On the island of Patmos, the elderly apostle John was given a vision of the heavenly garden city (Revelation 21:1-22:5). John saw “a river with the water of life” (22:1) and “on each side of the river grew a tree of life” (v.2). This heavenly garden is reminiscent of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8-3:24) where there is also a river (2:10) and the tree of life (v.9).
The tree of life in the Garden of Eden represented never-ending physical life (Genesis 3:22). God had not forbidden Adam and Eve to eat from any tree except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (2:16-17). So eating from the tree of life was permitted. But after they had sinned by eating from the forbidden tree, they were prevented from eating the fruit of the tree of life, for then they would have lived forever in sin (3:22,24).
But now, those who wash their robes are permitted to eat from the tree of life (Revelation 2:7,14). The curse for sin is completely removed (22:3). There will be perfection and purity (v.1), perfect service (v.3), and perfect communion with God “for they will see His face” (v.4), something that sinful man can never experience (Exodus 33:20). This is the special blessing given to those who are cleansed by the blood of the Lamb—Jesus (Revelation 7:14-17). —K.T. Sim
What does the tree of life mean for you? How has Jesus’ sacrifice blessed you now and for eternity?
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