PARABLE OF THE 3 TREES (Author unknown.)
Once there were 3 young trees that longed to become something important.
The first tree wanted to be used as part of the furniture in a royal palace. One day people came to the forest and cut the first tree down. It was hewn into rough pieces and nailed together to form a manger to feed cattle. Eventually it was sold for a pittance and placed in a stable in Bethlehem. The tree was heartbroken because it was relegated to feeding animals. However, one night Mary carefully laid her firstborn child - JESUS - in the manger. The manger trembled with delight. "This is wonderful! I never imagined that I would provide a bed for the Son of God!”
Years passed, and more men came to the forest to chop down the second tree. This tree dreamed of becoming a royal vessel for transporting kings. But instead it became a small, leaking fishing boat. Eventually a man named Peter obtained it for his trade. The little boat was not happy. But one day, as it sat on the shore of the Sea, Jesus of Nazareth stepped into it and began teaching a large crowd. "This is wonderful!" it thought. "I never imagined that the Son of God would use me to preach His word."
More years elapsed, and Romans soldiers came to cut down the third tree. This tree had hoped to be used in the construction of a temple or synagogue in which people could worship and glorify God. The Romans, however, had other ideas. They chopped and chopped until only two long, thick beams remained. They then connected the beams to form a cross. The tree was horrified. "All I wanted to do was glorify God, and now they are going to use me to kill someone!”
Shortly afterwards, a large crowd lined a street in Jerusalem. In the middle of the crowd was Jesus, carrying this tree. Eventually, He was nailed to it. As Jesus was dying, the tree heard Him speak words of compassion and forgiveness. Jesus then died, and the earth shook. Only then did the tree realize the significance of the moment. "This is wonderful! I never imagined that I would glorify God by enabling His Son to die for the sins of the world."
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Never forget that God has a SPECIAL PURPOSE for you and me. “…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you WILL COMPLETE IT until the day of Jesus Christ.." (Phil. 1:6)
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis
Once there were 3 young trees that longed to become something important.
The first tree wanted to be used as part of the furniture in a royal palace. One day people came to the forest and cut the first tree down. It was hewn into rough pieces and nailed together to form a manger to feed cattle. Eventually it was sold for a pittance and placed in a stable in Bethlehem. The tree was heartbroken because it was relegated to feeding animals. However, one night Mary carefully laid her firstborn child - JESUS - in the manger. The manger trembled with delight. "This is wonderful! I never imagined that I would provide a bed for the Son of God!”
Years passed, and more men came to the forest to chop down the second tree. This tree dreamed of becoming a royal vessel for transporting kings. But instead it became a small, leaking fishing boat. Eventually a man named Peter obtained it for his trade. The little boat was not happy. But one day, as it sat on the shore of the Sea, Jesus of Nazareth stepped into it and began teaching a large crowd. "This is wonderful!" it thought. "I never imagined that the Son of God would use me to preach His word."
More years elapsed, and Romans soldiers came to cut down the third tree. This tree had hoped to be used in the construction of a temple or synagogue in which people could worship and glorify God. The Romans, however, had other ideas. They chopped and chopped until only two long, thick beams remained. They then connected the beams to form a cross. The tree was horrified. "All I wanted to do was glorify God, and now they are going to use me to kill someone!”
Shortly afterwards, a large crowd lined a street in Jerusalem. In the middle of the crowd was Jesus, carrying this tree. Eventually, He was nailed to it. As Jesus was dying, the tree heard Him speak words of compassion and forgiveness. Jesus then died, and the earth shook. Only then did the tree realize the significance of the moment. "This is wonderful! I never imagined that I would glorify God by enabling His Son to die for the sins of the world."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Never forget that God has a SPECIAL PURPOSE for you and me. “…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you WILL COMPLETE IT until the day of Jesus Christ.." (Phil. 1:6)
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis
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