Creation Reference: Thriving tree by water

Visible Verse: Jer 17:7-8

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Creation Reference: Cutting down a tree

Visible Verse: Psalm 74:4-6

Your foes roared in the place where you met with us; they set up their standards as signs. They behaved like men wielding axes to cut through a thicket of trees. They smashed all the carved paneling with their axes and hatchets.

Creation Reference: Food bearing tree

Visible Verse: Proverbs 11:30

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.

Creation Reference: Poplar trees

Visible Verse: Isaiah 44:1-5

“But now listen, Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen. This is what the Lord says— he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun,[a] whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. Some will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’; others will call themselves by the name of Jacob; still others will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and will take the name Israel.

Creation Reference: Oak tree

Visible Verse: Isaiah 1:28-31

But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the Lord will perish. “You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be disgraced because of the gardens that you have chosen. You will be like an oak with fading leaves, like a garden without water. The mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the fire.”

Creation Reference: Crocus

Visible Verse: Isaiah 35:1-2

The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.

Creation Reference: Trees

Visible Verse: Isaiah 41:19-20

I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Creation Reference: Oak tree

Visible Verse: Isaiah 61:1-3

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a] to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

Creation Reference: Fruit tree

Visible Verse: Matthew 7:15-20

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Science: In winter, the American plum tree, with its long thorns and leafless limbs, appears far from the delicious fruit bearing tree that is its true nature. The plums pictured on the front of this card were photographed in Webster, Minnesota, July 26, 2008 just days before they ripened. Unfortunately, the birds were able to harvest the delicious fruit before their photographer! This is always true of good fruit, everybody wants a taste!

Application: What is true of the American plum tree is true of people. By their fruit you will recognize them. The fruit Jesus refers to is the outcome of our lives; what is the outcome of your life? Do you leave those you are around encouraged? Feeling loved and cared for? Appreciated? Blessed? When Jesus compared true Christians to trees that bear good fruit, he was referring to a life that could answer yes to these types of questions. A life that is characterized by the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (Galatians 5:22) is indeed a good tree with good fruit. May you be encouraged to produce the good fruit of a life lived for Christ with every peice of fruit you see!

Creation Reference: Fruit Tree

Visible Verse: Luke 6:43-45

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.


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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.