Has anyone ever wondered why trees grow straight up? They seem to defy gravity because they grow towards light (the Sun).

Light is a key piece in the process of photosynthesis. I’m not going to lecture you on botany, but it does raise some cool thoughts.

This morning when I woke up, the trees were white because of the ice that had overtaken them. Many of the trees were slumped over because the weight of the ice was too much for them to hold up.

As the Sun came out, the warmth began to hit the trees. Ice began to slowly melt away and fall to the ground. With every drop, the trees began to stand back up. It was amazing to watch this transformation take place.

We are like trees in that we get bogged down by too much weight. This weight is sin. This sin comes in many forms.

This sin keeps us from growing straight up to point to where the Son is.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  (Colossians 3:12-17 ESV)

Our help comes from the Lord. He is our Light. Just like the Sun is to trees, the Son is to us. Our goal is to live like Christ. Sin prohibits us.

Like the ice, sin weighs us down. Here are a few applications:

  1. Self Evaluation – Where are you spiritually? Do you feel as you are growing towards God, or is sin pulling you away?
  2. Prayer – If you are growing in your faith, pray that God continues to nourish you. If you are being pulled away by sin, ask God to “melt the ice” away.
  3. Do Not Be Discouraged – If you know you are being pulled away from God, do not allow be discouraged. Instead, have comfort in knowing that God loves you enough to not leave you where you are at.

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13 ESV)