Fall Before Jesus!

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Words of wisdom are like the stick a farmer uses to make animals move. These sayings come from God, our only shepherd, and they are like nails that fasten things together.

My child, I warn you to stay away from any teachings except these. There is no end to books, and too much study will wear you out.

Everything you were taught can be put into a few words: Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about. God will judge everything we do, even what is done in secret, whether good or bad.

Ecclesiastes 12:11-14

Why did God decide that Jesus would be reared and trained as a carpenter? Nothing about the life of Jesus Christ was an accident, so God must have had some purpose in placing Jesus in the home of the carpenter, Joseph. A carpenter shapes trees that are cut down and sacrificed from the forest to be formed into useful and lasting creations. Separate pieces of wood are shaped and formed so that when they are fastened together they become a chair, or table, or other piece of furniture.

The things that Joseph taught Jesus to do with wood are the same that the Lord Jesus did and still does with lives.

Jesus finds us living in the world like a tree in the forest. Like the tree, until we die to this world He cannot make us into the beautiful creation that only the Mind of God can plan! Visit an Ethan Allen furniture store and look at the beautiful furniture. Imagine the trees standing tall in the forest that had to die so the carpenter could make them in to these glorious creations!

The path to becoming a re-creation of Jesus is always painful. First, you must be cut down and die to this world. Then you are left to season and dry after being sliced into boards. The parts that are not perfect are throne into the fire. Then the Master's Hand nails you to other pieces to become exactly what He wants!

If you are still standing in the forest and you hear Jesus coming with His saw, take heart. Jesus comes to your life to change you into something of great and lasting value. Like the tree in the forest the journey with Jesus begins when you fall down before Him!