"And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground-trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Genesis 2:9
"...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." Revelation 22:2
"...a tree is recognized by its fruit." Matthew 12:33
"The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead-whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree." Acts 5:30
THE CHRISTMAS TREE
Trees are very important in the Bible!
Adam and Eve ate freely from the Tree of Life in the garden until they chose to disobey God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Life and death given from two different trees.
Life and death given on one tree later in history: as Jesus lay dying on the cross, He poured out His life for us. He gave His life on a tree so that we might have life with Him and one day eat from the tree of life again.
We are even referred to as trees. Trees producing fruit or not, depending on the indwelling of the Spirit.
The Christmas tree is a kind of memorial of these things that we place in our home during the Christmas season: the celebration of God becoming human like us to show us His love and restore us to eternal life.
What great promises we can celebrate as we contemplate our tree. It's okay to make it personal. It was intended to be taken as such.
"Jesus said, `I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" John 8:12
We string small, white lights on our tree. As I reflect on their beauty, I am reminded of the beauty God sees in us when we reflect His light.
Choose to see Jesus this Christmas in everything you do!
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