Praising God for Trees:

Talk about different kinds; their function in nature; their products for us to use.

Trees describe our beginning and end

“And the LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden, and there he placed the man whom He had formed. Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”  Genesis 2:8-9.

After people disobeyed God: “now, lest he stretch out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever, therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden.” Genesis 3:22-23.

But because Jesus died for us: “To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7.  And “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to eat the tree of life.” Revelation 22:14

Trees in the life of Jesus. 

A story about three trees mentions things made of wood that Jesus used; can you think of any? 

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, because he became a curse for us by hanging on a tree.”  Galatians 3:13.

The Bible compares us to trees. 

The Lord says, “I will condemn those who turn away from Me and put their trust in human strength.  They will dry up like a bush in salty desert soil where nothing can grow. But I will bless those who put their trust in Me.  They will be like a tree growing beside a stream, sending out roots to the water.  It is not afraid when hot weather comes because it’s leaves stay green.  It has no worries when there is no rain.  It keeps on producing fruit.” Jeremiah 17:5-8.  

Jesus said, “A healthy tree produces good fruit, but a diseased tree cannot produce good fruit.  It will be chopped down and burned.  The way to know a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit they produce.” Matthew 7:17-21

Good fruit is produced in us by God: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”  Galatians 5:22

Trees describe our relationship to God

Paul compares God’s people to an olive tree: “Some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree.” Romans 11:17.  Jesus grafts us in.

Let your roots grow down into Him (Jesus) and draw up nourishment from Him.  See that you go on growing in your faith, overflowing with thanksgiving for all He has done.  Colossians 2:7

Prayer

I pray that Christ may live in your hearts through faith.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s love, so that you may come to know and experience the greatness of His love.  Ephesians 3:17.  

Trees.  A poem by JOYCE KILMER

I think that I shall never see 

A poem lovely as a tree. 

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest 

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast; 
A tree that looks at God all day, 

And lifts her leafy arms to pray; 

A tree that may in Summer wear 

A nest of robins in her hair; 

Upon whose bosom snow has lain; 

Who intimately lives with rain. 

Poems are made by fools like me, 

But only God can make a tree.

MORE ABOUT TREES

As you look around you will notice that there are two basic kinds of trees.  Conifers have needles and stay green all year.  Deciduous trees have leaves that dry up and fall off in winter.  How many uses for trees can you think of?  Food for people and animals (fruit, nuts, leaves, sap), building materials, paper production, safe nesting places, wind brakes, shade, erosion prevention, and rubber production are just some of the ways that trees are useful to us and to animals.  Our lives would be very different without trees.  They add so much beauty to our world.  As you travel up the mountain notice the different kinds and sizes of trees.  The trees near the top of the highest mountains are smaller.  Why do some have branches on only one side?  Why do some grow in little patches like islands?  Why do some grow sideways along the ground instead of upright?  Some trees produce tiny seeds, some large seeds, and some reproduce through their root systems.  There are so many beautiful trees, so many things that we use everyday that come from trees, and so many reasons to thank God for the gift of trees.

In Psalm one God speaks through the Psalmist and compares people to trees.

Oh the joys of those who do not follow evil men’s advice, who do not follow the example of sinners, making fun of the things of God.  Instead they find happiness in doing God’s will.  Day and night they think about what God wants them to do and about ways to follow Him more closely.  They are like trees along a river bank that produce fruit each season.  Their leaves never dry up and they are successful in what they do.

But people without God are not like this at all.  They are like dried up weeds blown around by the wind.  They won’t have an excuse on the day of judgment and will be separated from the people of God.

Jeremiah 17:6-8 also compares people to trees. 

The Lord says, “I will condemn those who turn away from Me and put their trust inhuman strength.  They will dry up like a bush in salty desert soil where nothing can grow.

But I will bless those who put their trust in Me.  They will be like a tree growing beside a stream, sending out roots to the water.  It is not afraid when hot weather comes because it’s leaves stay green.  It has no worries when there is no rain.  It keeps on producing fruit.

Looking at these two Bible references make a list of what people are like who are without God and then a list of what people who trust God are like.

How many kinds of fruit trees can you think of?

What is the fruit of the Spirit？Galatians 5:22-23

In Matthew 7:17-21 Jesus also compares people to trees.

A healthy tree produces good fruit, but a diseased tree can not produce good fruit.  It will be chopped down and burned.  The way to know a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit they produce.  Not everyone who calls himself a follower of Jesus will go to heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.

When you are hiking notice the difference in the size of trees that are growing near water and the same kind of tree that is growing in a dry area.  What do the following Bible verses compare the soil that is near the water to?

Let your roots grow down into Him (Jesus) and draw up nourishment from Him.  See that you go on growing in your faith, overflowing with thanksgiving for all He has done.  Colossians 2:7

I pray that Christ may live in your hearts through faith.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s love, that you may come to know and experience the greatness of His love.  Ephesians 3:17

The Limber Pine Tree

The branches of the limper pine are very flexible, bending, not breaking when there is a strong wind.  The needles are in bunches of five.  They are found in the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico at altitudes ranging from 5,000 to 12,000 feet.  In ideal conditions they grow up to 66 feet high, in exposed treeline areas 16 feet and in rocky, windswept areas, nine feet. 

The roots of the limber pine spread out to an area longer than its height.  Some of the roots are close to the surface to absorb even small amounts of rain, but there is also a deep tap root that follows cracks in rocks making the tree stable in the wind.

The limber pine survives well in difficult conditions, dry, windy, cold, and hot.  One tree in Oregon is over 2000 years old and another in Utah over 1,700 years old.

The limber pine has an interesting relationship with the Clarks Nutcracker.  The bird has a crow-bar shaped beak that can break through the rock-hard hulls of the 3-8 inch cones to get at the seeds. It also has a throat storage pouch to carry the seeds to a place to store them for the winter.  Up to 30,000 seeds can be stored. Those not eaten germinate and grow into new trees in areas away from the mother tree where they are more able to find good growing conditions.  So the Clarks Nutcracker is responsible for planting trees in many different locations.

What are some of the things we’ve just learned about the limber pine that remind us of the Christian life?  About the interrelationships in God’s creation? 

What happens when people disobey park rules and feed the Clarks Nutcracker?  The birds learn to depend on food from hikers and don’t bother to teach their young how to harvest and store the pine nuts.  If the young fail to get food from hikers they die and fewer trees are planted.  It’s fun to feed the birds and you might not get caught by a ranger, but …   Part of obeying God is following His instruction to respect and obey those who are in authority like parents, government, and park rangers.  God loves us and knows what is best for us and how to keep us from getting into trouble. 

Can you think of any park rules that are there to protect you? (rules about approaching wildlife or leaving food out when you’re not around your campsite)

Romans 13:1,4  Everyone must obey state authorities, because no authority exists without God’s permission, and existing authorities have been put there by God.  They are God’s servants working for your own good.

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