9-11-2024

Good Morning All,

   Psalm 104:16; “The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted.”

     The trees of the Lord are full of sap.  I usually use the ESV translation but sometimes the KJV has just a little more zip to it.  The trees of the Lord are full of sap, the cedars of Lebanon.  The cedars of Lebanon were tremendous trees, tall and big.  They were treasured by the whole region.  These were the trees used by Solomon when he built the Temple and his own palace.  These are what the trees of the Lord are like.  They are tall, massive trees well known throughout the region and desired by many.  In order for these trees to grow so big; it required ideal growing conditions to become these healthy trees.  The trees were full of sap.

     The sap of a tree is its lifeblood, literally.  The sap is what takes the nutrients from the roots and pulls them up to the leaves for photosynthesis to convert them to energy by the power of the sun, which feeds the whole plant.  If the sap does not flow; the tree does not grow.  If the sap does not flow, the fruit is not produced.  If the sap does not flow, the tree is more susceptible to harm by insects or fungus.  If the sap does not flow, the tree dies.  The tree may stand and look good but soon the weather and the insects and the fires will destroy it.  In so many ways, you, and I, as God’s redeemed children, are exactly like those trees. 

     We, as Christians, are fed by the flowing of this sap; this life-giving mixture which feeds us.  In the Church we would refer to this as the Holy Spirit.  He flows through us bringing nutrients to us through the Word and through the Sacraments to be converted into energy by the power of the Son (Jesus). We need the Spirit to flow through us so that we may continue to grow as the type of disciple, the type of human, that God is shaping us to be.  Just as the size of the tree and the quality of the fruit is shaped by the stresses that the tree experiences; so are we as well shaped and formed.  Faith that is not tested is not real faith.  Real faith is like pure gold; it is refined through fire to burn of the impurities within.  I am sure some of us feel we have been through the refining fire quite a bit lately.  Maybe you have had some health scares or job worries or family strains or a whole host of other fires.  These are but tests for us.  Some sent by God others just used by God to show us what we are made of; God already knows what we are made of He just wants you to know.  He wants you to know that you are full of sap.

    The Spirit flows freely through you feeding you, nourishing you, protecting you even to the point where, like the sap of a tree, He forms a healing cover over the wounds that threaten to destroy you so that you may continue to grow.  But like that tree that is planted by the streams of water; we too must be planted in the good soil with plenty of water.  We must be planted by faith in Jesus as our Savior.  Through Him we receive the nutrients which the Spirit brings to us to feed and protect us.  We are full of sap let us rejoice in mercy of God.

 Gracious Father, you feed and nourish us through your Word and Sacrament.  You protect and defend us from all danger.  Keep us full of your sap that we may continue to grow as your children and to bear the fruit which you have given to us.  Let the world see your majesty through us, your beloved children.  In Jesus precious name we pray, Amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret