Stepping Down to Promotion
“One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the OLIVE tree: Be our king. But the olive tree answered: Should I give up my oil, by which God and men are honoured, to hold sway over the trees ? Next the trees said to the FIG tree: Come and be our king. But the fig tree replied: Should I give up my sweetness and my good fruit to hold sway over the trees ? Then the trees said to the VINE: Come and be our king. But the vine answered: Should I give up my wine, which cheers both God and men, to hold sway over the trees? Finally all the trees said to the THORNBUSH:
Come and be our king. The thornbush said to the trees: If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon” (Judges 9:8-15).
This is a very strange parable. Here we find three trees who courageously refused to leave their calling in order to occupy a throne. This I believe signifies the basic threefold calling of a believer. The olive tree signifies fatness, a spiritually wellnourished personal life. The fig tree denotes a life filled with the sweet fruit of the Spirit. The vine stands for an anointed life with manifestation of the power of the Spirit.
Unless a believer is convinced that no calling is better than the one given to him, he will be whisked away to an occupation that looks more attractive, authoritative and regal. These three trees teach us to hold on to the calling to which we are called and be doing those noble things we are called to do. We hear a myriad voices around us calling us to come and take over, with promises of glory and honour. But should we step down to that promotion? These are the three areas a believer is strongly tempted to compromise.
The Olive Tree
When we try to accomodate a new slot into our 24 hour schedule, the first to be affected is our devotional life ; because for sometime it appears as though nothing is affected. The olive tree tossed over the offer in its mind and then tossed it out, having decided to stick to its quiet job.
Believers are multiplying by the thousands, but very few find the time to sit unhurriedly with God and converse with Him. They are just satisfied with the reading in Daily Devotionals. It is like taking multivitamin pills instead of good food. They should be plus, not instead. No wonder they are lean.
Oil makes our face to shine (Psa 104:15). The more time we spend at the feet of God, the brighter we shine. The regular flow of oil keeps us continuously burning and shining (Zech 4:12-14). No use singing, “Keep me shining, Lord!” without sinking into God’s presence everyday. Olive oil was used as fuel for small lamps that lit Hebrew homes and the Tent of Meeting (Ex 27:20). Are we lighting our homes and churches? If not, let us reappraise our devotional life.
If we pray and read the Bible like sleepwalkers we are destined to lose the shine on our face. We will lack a healing word for the wounded as healing oil (Lk 10:34). Olive oil is rich in good cholesterol and therefore can heal your heart, as does your devotions. If we refuse to be bewitched by the voices promising prosperity, if we are ready to lose the benefits that can be ours at the cost of our devotions, then and only then will we bring honour to God and man. Or else we will be a smoking flax to dishonour God and our fellowmen. Harmless pastimes like TV, novels and late-night chatter may promise us the much needed fun and fellowship but the resulting lassitude blunts our brain as we kneel down to talk to God.
How many, even those about to retire, enroll themselves for higher education and thus sacrifice their deep devotions! It is possible for theological students to pour over study books, Bible dictionaries, reference books and expositions by leading authors, yet fail to talk to God and hear from Him. In a drive to achieve their targets, those in ministry may lose their drive to be close to God. It is a heavy price we pay for the speed at which we run. They shall be like olive trees whose olives drop off (Dt 28:40). Outwardly they will look like salubrious trees full of lush green leaves, even buds, blossom and olives. But their olives will not ripen because they are not given sufficient time.
Even conventions, camps and conferences can put us on a podium. The apostles were enjoying a reputable life with a growing congregation. They were the top twelve. But they picked up the warning in time and said, ‘No.’ They wanted to abandon themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4). No wonder they wrote the Bible. Leaving a simple life of serving God for taller pulpits has tied down many to a plateau life. We must aspire; but never let our aspirations snuff out devotions.
Your children should also be like olive trees (Psa 128:3). Unless parents are regular in their devotional habits, it is difficult to inculcate the habit in the children. Therefore we must resist the locusts of promotion to preserve our fatness (Amos 4:9). Then our beauty shall be like the olive tree (Hos 14:6). Let not devotions become a sermon preparation time. It is like pressing olives but not using the oil on ourselves (Mic 6:15).
Our romance with the world has led us to just ‘read’ the Bible without ‘studying’ it. It is like hearing someone without really listening to him. No wonder God has stopped talking to many of us. Our mind is like a mighty Samson sending out foxes with burning tails to burn down our olive groves (Judges 15:5). Unless we apply our mind and read, we’ll remain empty. Remember, the entrance to the inner sanctuary was doors of olive wood. It is our devotions that open the door to the presence of God. One who is regular here is like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God (Psa 52:8). It is a thriving olive with fruit beautiful in form (Jer 11:16).
Though we were useless wild olives we were grafted in among the others, by the immeasurable grace of God. So, let us not forget our calling to bring forth oil to honour God and man (Rom 11:17). It is not easy. It is persevering under pressure. But it is pressure that brings out the oil! (Mic 6:15).
The Fig Tree
We are very very good till a lucrative offer comes for promotion at the bargain of our fruits. We want it at any cost, even at the cost of our sweetness and good fruit. Have we sold our fruits for a throne ?
The fig tree probably weighed the pros and cons. May be it was even tempted to become the king and continue to produce fruits. But it came to the conclusion that it would be impossible and turned down the offer. It must have had a mental struggle within the family too, from compulsion to accept the offer. Others might have labelled him an eccentric. But the fig stood its ground. It valued its sweetness and fruit more than silver and gold, crown and throne.
Cultivating the habit of fruitbearing is a much neglected area of Christian life. Christian life is not just shedding a few drops of tears for our past and dipping in water. It is shedding drops of sweat to bring forth fruit. Often we don’t realise it is we who eat the fruit and that we cheat ourselves by giving it up for something we dream is better. “He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit” (Prov 27: 18). How often have we lost our sweetness to possess a superior position or possession, so called ?
Next, we cheat God. Jesus was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. It was living a charade (Mt 21:19). The peculiarity about the fig tree is that the fruit appears before the leaves. Therefore a tree full of lush green leaves indicated that ripe figs should be there, even though it was not yet the regular season. Jesus cursed the tree. When one has just the outward show of a good character, it is just hypocrisy, and he is bound to wither away soon (v 20). The Master may even command that it be chopped down (Lk 13:7). Are we cheating the Master by satisfying our cravings ? The Master is not satisfied with vine alone. That’s why He had a “fig tree” planted in His “vineyard.” Though He was surrounded by vine He went to look for fruit in the fig tree but did not find any. Still He kept coming for three years. God’s patience is running out over many of His Spirit-filled people because He is hungry for fruit and they have failed Him. The countdown has begun for them.
Adam and Eve lacked the fruits of faith and self-control, and covered themselves with fig leaves (Gen 3:7). Unless we decisively throw away our ‘gains,’ to revamp our fruit-life we will have to hide ourselves with leaves. These ‘gains’ shall but be fleeing shadows when the morning star arises. To dwell under one’s own fig tree represents happiness, prosperity, safety and security (1 Ki 4:25; Mic 4:4). Be a fruitful tree and neither you nor those under your shade will lack any of these.
God found us as the firstripe in the fig tree (Hos 9:10). But the tentacles of the throne have strangled our fruitful branches. Are we in a place where our Christian values are eroded ? Then it is definitely not where we ought to be. Have the locusts of lovelessness, bitterness, hatred, anger, rudeness, crookedness, unfaithfulness, arrogance and lust eaten away our fig tree ? (Psa 105:33; Amos 4:9). Let us expunge them before they bark us clean bare (Joel 1:7). Let’s stop making fools of ourselves by sacrificing our sweet calling to become a king. Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king (Eccl 4:13). Then we will start yielding richly (Joel 2:22). On that day we will invite our neighbours to sit under our fig tree (Zech 3:10) — We will be a blessing in our neighbourhood.
Figs are used as staple food in the Middle East. Poultices of figs were once applied to boils (Isa 38:21). Surely we will satisfy the hunger of neighbours and heal their sores. If we stick to our calling to be a fig tree God will make us a marvellous puzzle and make people to exclaim: "Out of the strong comes sweetness!" (Judg 14:14).
The Vine
The vine had no mind to throw away its wine which cheered God and men. Has the Lord endowed us with the gifts of the Spirit to be buried safe and returned to Him in due course? Are we doing business with them? We have sold away our time for a whirlwind life and given lame excuses for not using the anointing that is upon us. Our excuses stem out of our avarice for power, position and paisa. The world like a big vacuum cleaner has sucked us into its system.
Don’t think you don’t have talents. Everyone has atleast one. Many fast for 40 days and expect to emerge with earthshaking gifts. That is not how God works. Create time to be available to others. Befriend the wounded and perishing. “Give beer to those who are perishing and wine to those who are in anguish. Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. Speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Prov 31:6-9). Are we sinning by our silence? Do we shut our eyes to flagrant human right abuses?
Once I saw some ricksha-pullers beating up a mentally retarded youth. I could have stopped them, but I did not. My conscience has not forgiven me yet. But since then I have picked up courage. We all can use our past failures as building blocks of our future.
It was afterall a Samaritan who poured his wine on the wounds of the victim of bandits (Lk 10:33-35). The priest couldn't help. He cannot be late for the Worship Service you know! May be the Levite rushed to be in time for choir practice. Oh, how we the priests and Levites of God are like monkeys clasping nuts inside the bottle with no hand free to pour our wine on a wounded fellow. Quo vadis? Do you realise millions are going to hell because having wine in hand you have gone to rule over the trees ? Your throne is not worth the cost. You are losing the highest reward on heaven and earth.
Oh, how many believers are like a spreading vine that brings forth fruit for itself ? (Hos 10:1). Their vision is a throne, their passion is speaking in tongues, and their mission is to paint their church. The world and the wounded are not in their mind at all. They are too preoccupied to pour out their wine for the bone-and-skin fellow on the street. “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom” (SS 2:13-15). How many who spread their fragrance are ruined by foxes. Wisdom is recognising these foxes—the things that we need not do. It may be our evening tuitions which we can easily give up or our club activities, or—why not , even our job? If we want to use our anointing and gifts to the full we need to give up something. We have to find out what that something is. If we have the ‘won’t power’ to shed responsibilities we need not carry, we will blossom like a vine, and our fame will be like the wine from Lebanon. “Your fruitfulness comes from Me,” says the Lord (Hos 14:7,8).
Juice of mature grapes was extracted by barefoot workers who sang and danced on the year’s crop (Isa 16:10). Grapes must be stamped underfeet before the wine could be extracted. Have we run away from crushing experiences to a comfortable, respectable high throne ? God planted us like a choice vine (Jer 2:21). Have we become empty (Hos 10:1 KJV) because we went after attractive offers ? Have we sought after riches which have now made us wineless ? Have we run away from the pruning scissors to a palatial garden? Let’s go back and He will make us to bear abundant fruit (Jn 15:1,2).
God has done all that is possible to make us fruitful vines (Isa 5:4). But we neglected it so that it is full of thorns and weeds, and the hedge broken down (Prov 24:30,31). Having enjoyed God’s grace, what have we rewarded Him with? There are many ways to touch lives. Start small. God can bless it and make your dream a reality. Is there such a dream in your heart ? Then go for it boldly. Don’t think of the whole world and sigh. Do something in your street, in your town with the five loaves and two fish in your hand. We can’t go to the uttermost parts of the world without stepping into our neighbourhood. Don't let worms devour your vineyard (Am 4:9).
The Thistle
Eventually the trees invited the thistle to come and be king over them. The thistle grabbed at the opportunity, because it had nothing to lose—no oil, no fruits or sweetness and no wine. There are always worldy people to do what we are now doing at the cost of our devotional life, sweet life and reproductive life. People wanted to take Jesus by force and make Him king (Jn 6:15). But He withdrew Himself leaving Herod to rule. There is no better model for us. Let the dead bury their dead and let us follow Christ, and bloom where we are planted!
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
Stepping Down to Promotion
“One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the OLIVE tree: Be our king. But the olive tree answered: Should I give up my oil, by which God and men are honoured, to hold sway over the trees ? Next the trees said to the FIG tree: Come and be our king. But the fig tree replied: Should I give up my sweetness and my good fruit to hold sway over the trees ? Then the trees said to the VINE: Come and be our king. But the vine answered: Should I give up my wine, which cheers both God and men, to hold sway over the trees? Finally all the trees said to the THORNBUSH:
Come and be our king. The thornbush said to the trees: If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon” (Judges 9:8-15).
This is a very strange parable. Here we find three trees who courageously refused to leave their calling in order to occupy a throne. This I believe signifies the basic threefold calling of a believer. The olive tree signifies fatness, a spiritually wellnourished personal life. The fig tree denotes a life filled with the sweet fruit of the Spirit. The vine stands for an anointed life with manifestation of the power of the Spirit.
Unless a believer is convinced that no calling is better than the one given to him, he will be whisked away to an occupation that looks more attractive, authoritative and regal. These three trees teach us to hold on to the calling to which we are called and be doing those noble things we are called to do. We hear a myriad voices around us calling us to come and take over, with promises of glory and honour. But should we step down to that promotion? These are the three areas a believer is strongly tempted to compromise.
The Olive Tree
When we try to accomodate a new slot into our 24 hour schedule, the first to be affected is our devotional life ; because for sometime it appears as though nothing is affected. The olive tree tossed over the offer in its mind and then tossed it out, having decided to stick to its quiet job.
Believers are multiplying by the thousands, but very few find the time to sit unhurriedly with God and converse with Him. They are just satisfied with the reading in Daily Devotionals. It is like taking multivitamin pills instead of good food. They should be plus, not instead. No wonder they are lean.
Oil makes our face to shine (Psa 104:15). The more time we spend at the feet of God, the brighter we shine. The regular flow of oil keeps us continuously burning and shining (Zech 4:12-14). No use singing, “Keep me shining, Lord!” without sinking into God’s presence everyday. Olive oil was used as fuel for small lamps that lit Hebrew homes and the Tent of Meeting (Ex 27:20). Are we lighting our homes and churches? If not, let us reappraise our devotional life.
If we pray and read the Bible like sleepwalkers we are destined to lose the shine on our face. We will lack a healing word for the wounded as healing oil (Lk 10:34). Olive oil is rich in good cholesterol and therefore can heal your heart, as does your devotions. If we refuse to be bewitched by the voices promising prosperity, if we are ready to lose the benefits that can be ours at the cost of our devotions, then and only then will we bring honour to God and man. Or else we will be a smoking flax to dishonour God and our fellowmen. Harmless pastimes like TV, novels and late-night chatter may promise us the much needed fun and fellowship but the resulting lassitude blunts our brain as we kneel down to talk to God.
How many, even those about to retire, enroll themselves for higher education and thus sacrifice their deep devotions! It is possible for theological students to pour over study books, Bible dictionaries, reference books and expositions by leading authors, yet fail to talk to God and hear from Him. In a drive to achieve their targets, those in ministry may lose their drive to be close to God. It is a heavy price we pay for the speed at which we run. They shall be like olive trees whose olives drop off (Dt 28:40). Outwardly they will look like salubrious trees full of lush green leaves, even buds, blossom and olives. But their olives will not ripen because they are not given sufficient time.
Even conventions, camps and conferences can put us on a podium. The apostles were enjoying a reputable life with a growing congregation. They were the top twelve. But they picked up the warning in time and said, ‘No.’ They wanted to abandon themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4). No wonder they wrote the Bible. Leaving a simple life of serving God for taller pulpits has tied down many to a plateau life. We must aspire; but never let our aspirations snuff out devotions.
Your children should also be like olive trees (Psa 128:3). Unless parents are regular in their devotional habits, it is difficult to inculcate the habit in the children. Therefore we must resist the locusts of promotion to preserve our fatness (Amos 4:9). Then our beauty shall be like the olive tree (Hos 14:6). Let not devotions become a sermon preparation time. It is like pressing olives but not using the oil on ourselves (Mic 6:15).
Our romance with the world has led us to just ‘read’ the Bible without ‘studying’ it. It is like hearing someone without really listening to him. No wonder God has stopped talking to many of us. Our mind is like a mighty Samson sending out foxes with burning tails to burn down our olive groves (Judges 15:5). Unless we apply our mind and read, we’ll remain empty. Remember, the entrance to the inner sanctuary was doors of olive wood. It is our devotions that open the door to the presence of God. One who is regular here is like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God (Psa 52:8). It is a thriving olive with fruit beautiful in form (Jer 11:16).
Though we were useless wild olives we were grafted in among the others, by the immeasurable grace of God. So, let us not forget our calling to bring forth oil to honour God and man (Rom 11:17). It is not easy. It is persevering under pressure. But it is pressure that brings out the oil! (Mic 6:15).
The Fig Tree
We are very very good till a lucrative offer comes for promotion at the bargain of our fruits. We want it at any cost, even at the cost of our sweetness and good fruit. Have we sold our fruits for a throne ?
The fig tree probably weighed the pros and cons. May be it was even tempted to become the king and continue to produce fruits. But it came to the conclusion that it would be impossible and turned down the offer. It must have had a mental struggle within the family too, from compulsion to accept the offer. Others might have labelled him an eccentric. But the fig stood its ground. It valued its sweetness and fruit more than silver and gold, crown and throne.
Cultivating the habit of fruitbearing is a much neglected area of Christian life. Christian life is not just shedding a few drops of tears for our past and dipping in water. It is shedding drops of sweat to bring forth fruit. Often we don’t realise it is we who eat the fruit and that we cheat ourselves by giving it up for something we dream is better. “He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit” (Prov 27: 18). How often have we lost our sweetness to possess a superior position or possession, so called ?
Next, we cheat God. Jesus was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. It was living a charade (Mt 21:19). The peculiarity about the fig tree is that the fruit appears before the leaves. Therefore a tree full of lush green leaves indicated that ripe figs should be there, even though it was not yet the regular season. Jesus cursed the tree. When one has just the outward show of a good character, it is just hypocrisy, and he is bound to wither away soon (v 20). The Master may even command that it be chopped down (Lk 13:7). Are we cheating the Master by satisfying our cravings ? The Master is not satisfied with vine alone. That’s why He had a “fig tree” planted in His “vineyard.” Though He was surrounded by vine He went to look for fruit in the fig tree but did not find any. Still He kept coming for three years. God’s patience is running out over many of His Spirit-filled people because He is hungry for fruit and they have failed Him. The countdown has begun for them.
Adam and Eve lacked the fruits of faith and self-control, and covered themselves with fig leaves (Gen 3:7). Unless we decisively throw away our ‘gains,’ to revamp our fruit-life we will have to hide ourselves with leaves. These ‘gains’ shall but be fleeing shadows when the morning star arises. To dwell under one’s own fig tree represents happiness, prosperity, safety and security (1 Ki 4:25; Mic 4:4). Be a fruitful tree and neither you nor those under your shade will lack any of these.
God found us as the firstripe in the fig tree (Hos 9:10). But the tentacles of the throne have strangled our fruitful branches. Are we in a place where our Christian values are eroded ? Then it is definitely not where we ought to be. Have the locusts of lovelessness, bitterness, hatred, anger, rudeness, crookedness, unfaithfulness, arrogance and lust eaten away our fig tree ? (Psa 105:33; Amos 4:9). Let us expunge them before they bark us clean bare (Joel 1:7). Let’s stop making fools of ourselves by sacrificing our sweet calling to become a king. Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king (Eccl 4:13). Then we will start yielding richly (Joel 2:22). On that day we will invite our neighbours to sit under our fig tree (Zech 3:10) — We will be a blessing in our neighbourhood.
Figs are used as staple food in the Middle East. Poultices of figs were once applied to boils (Isa 38:21). Surely we will satisfy the hunger of neighbours and heal their sores. If we stick to our calling to be a fig tree God will make us a marvellous puzzle and make people to exclaim: "Out of the strong comes sweetness!" (Judg 14:14).
The Vine
The vine had no mind to throw away its wine which cheered God and men. Has the Lord endowed us with the gifts of the Spirit to be buried safe and returned to Him in due course? Are we doing business with them? We have sold away our time for a whirlwind life and given lame excuses for not using the anointing that is upon us. Our excuses stem out of our avarice for power, position and paisa. The world like a big vacuum cleaner has sucked us into its system.
Don’t think you don’t have talents. Everyone has atleast one. Many fast for 40 days and expect to emerge with earthshaking gifts. That is not how God works. Create time to be available to others. Befriend the wounded and perishing. “Give beer to those who are perishing and wine to those who are in anguish. Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. Speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Prov 31:6-9). Are we sinning by our silence? Do we shut our eyes to flagrant human right abuses?
Once I saw some ricksha-pullers beating up a mentally retarded youth. I could have stopped them, but I did not. My conscience has not forgiven me yet. But since then I have picked up courage. We all can use our past failures as building blocks of our future.
It was afterall a Samaritan who poured his wine on the wounds of the victim of bandits (Lk 10:33-35). The priest couldn't help. He cannot be late for the Worship Service you know! May be the Levite rushed to be in time for choir practice. Oh, how we the priests and Levites of God are like monkeys clasping nuts inside the bottle with no hand free to pour our wine on a wounded fellow. Quo vadis? Do you realise millions are going to hell because having wine in hand you have gone to rule over the trees ? Your throne is not worth the cost. You are losing the highest reward on heaven and earth.
Oh, how many believers are like a spreading vine that brings forth fruit for itself ? (Hos 10:1). Their vision is a throne, their passion is speaking in tongues, and their mission is to paint their church. The world and the wounded are not in their mind at all. They are too preoccupied to pour out their wine for the bone-and-skin fellow on the street. “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom” (SS 2:13-15). How many who spread their fragrance are ruined by foxes. Wisdom is recognising these foxes—the things that we need not do. It may be our evening tuitions which we can easily give up or our club activities, or—why not , even our job? If we want to use our anointing and gifts to the full we need to give up something. We have to find out what that something is. If we have the ‘won’t power’ to shed responsibilities we need not carry, we will blossom like a vine, and our fame will be like the wine from Lebanon. “Your fruitfulness comes from Me,” says the Lord (Hos 14:7,8).
Juice of mature grapes was extracted by barefoot workers who sang and danced on the year’s crop (Isa 16:10). Grapes must be stamped underfeet before the wine could be extracted. Have we run away from crushing experiences to a comfortable, respectable high throne ? God planted us like a choice vine (Jer 2:21). Have we become empty (Hos 10:1 KJV) because we went after attractive offers ? Have we sought after riches which have now made us wineless ? Have we run away from the pruning scissors to a palatial garden? Let’s go back and He will make us to bear abundant fruit (Jn 15:1,2).
God has done all that is possible to make us fruitful vines (Isa 5:4). But we neglected it so that it is full of thorns and weeds, and the hedge broken down (Prov 24:30,31). Having enjoyed God’s grace, what have we rewarded Him with? There are many ways to touch lives. Start small. God can bless it and make your dream a reality. Is there such a dream in your heart ? Then go for it boldly. Don’t think of the whole world and sigh. Do something in your street, in your town with the five loaves and two fish in your hand. We can’t go to the uttermost parts of the world without stepping into our neighbourhood. Don't let worms devour your vineyard (Am 4:9).
The Thistle
Eventually the trees invited the thistle to come and be king over them. The thistle grabbed at the opportunity, because it had nothing to lose—no oil, no fruits or sweetness and no wine. There are always worldy people to do what we are now doing at the cost of our devotional life, sweet life and reproductive life. People wanted to take Jesus by force and make Him king (Jn 6:15). But He withdrew Himself leaving Herod to rule. There is no better model for us. Let the dead bury their dead and let us follow Christ, and bloom where we are planted!
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
