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August 5, 2022 8:00 pm
Picture a mighty oak tree that’s small enough to fit on a kitchen table. That’s what a bonsai looks like—a beautiful ornamental tree that’s a miniature version of what you find wild in nature. There’s no genetic difference between a bonsai and its full-size counterpart. It’s simply that a shallow pot, pruning, and root trimming restrict growth, so the plant remains small.
While bonsai trees make for wonderful decorative plants, they also illustrate the power of control. It’s true that we can manipulate their growth as the tree responds to its environment. But God is ultimately the One who makes things grow.
God spoke to the prophet Ezekiel this way: “I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall” (Ezekiel 17:19). God was foreshadowing future events when he would “uproot” the nation of Israel by allowing the Babylonians to invade. In the future, however, God would plant a new tree in Israel that would bear fruit, with “birds of every kind” finding shelter in the shade of its branches (v. 23). God said that no matter how much upcoming events seemed out of control, He was still in charge.
The world tells us to try to control our circumstances by manipulation and through our own hard work. But true peace and thriving are found by relinquishing control to the only One who can make the trees grow.
Hey there and welcome to another daily encouragement from the Our Daily Bread devotional.
Today's devotion is titled relinquishing control to God, and it was written by Karen PIMCO. Picture a mighty oak tree that small enough to fit on a kitchen table. That's what a bonsai looks like a beautiful ornamental tree that's a miniature version of what you find wild in nature. There is no genetic difference between a bonsai and its full-size counterpart. It simply that a shallow pot pruning and root trimming restrict growth to the plant remains small, while bonsai trees make for wonderful decorative plants. They also illustrate the power of control. It's true that we can manipulate their growth as the trees respond to their environment.
But God is ultimately the one who makes things grow, God spoke to the prophet Ezekiel. This way I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall.
God was foreshadowing future events when he would uproot the nation of Israel by allowing the Babylonians to invade in the future. However, God would plant a nutrient Israel that would bear fruit with birds of every kind, finding shelter in the shade of its branches. God said that no matter how much upcoming event seemed out of control.
He was still in charge. The world tells us to try to control our circumstances by manipulation and through our own hard work. The true peace driving are found by relinquishing control to the only one who can make the trees grow today's Our Daily Bread devotional Scripture reading is from Ezekiel chapter 17 verses 19 through 24. Therefore, this is what the sovereign Lord says as surely as I live I will repay him for despising my oath and breaking my covenant I will spread my net for him and he will be caught in my sneer. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment on him there because he was unfaithful to me all his choice.
Troops will fall by the sword and the survivors will be scattered to the winds. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken.
This is what the sovereign Lord says I myself will take a shoot from the very top of the cedar and planted I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and planted on a high and lofty mountain on the mountain heights of Israel. I will planted, it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar birds of every kind will nest in it. They will find shelter in the shade of its branches. All the trees of the forest will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it. Let's pray we praise you loving God as the all-powerful King help us acknowledge your Lordship in our life and live in complete surrender to you. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Thanks for listening today. My name is Tony Collier and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread ministries
