The Parable of the Acorn
An elderly man was once out for an evening stroll when his feet inadvertently sent a little acorn skittering across the forest floor. He came to the place where it had stopped rolling and, stooping slowly, picked it up. And then, strangely, he held that acorn to his ear. He held that acorn to his ear and, listening attentively, heard it speak.
“In time the birds will come and make their nests in my branches,” it said. “In time I will cast deep shade so that cattle can come and find respite from the midday sun. In time I will provide warmth for a home. In time I will be a shelter from the storm for those who gather beneath my timbers. In time I will form the ribs of a great ship and the storms will beat against me in vain as I carry passengers safely across the storm-swept seas.”
“You foolish little acorn,” said the old man. “Will you be all this? Can you be all this?”
“Yes,” replied the acorn. “Yes, God and I.”*
As Christians we are often discouraged by our scant accomplishments and slow progress. We find ourselves attuned more to our spiritual defeats than spiritual victories, more to the sin that remains than the holiness won. Though we may not be who and what we once were, we are still not nearly who and what we long to be.
The acorn in this parable models the kind of faith each of us can have, the kind of confidence we ought to have, for it reminds us that God has made many promises. God has said that since he is the one who began a good work in us, he is the one who will bring it to completion. God has said that he will sanctify us completely so that our whole spirit and soul and body will be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has said that he will fulfill his every purpose for us. (Phil 1:4, 1 Thes 5:24, Psalm 138:8)
And though we have been justified and will be glorified, we are being sanctified. Though God has in one moment saved our souls and will in one moment deliver them to his presence, he is in the meantime progressively conforming us to his image. And though he calls us to battle to put sin to death and come alive to righteousness, he does not call us to battle in our own strength or with our own power.
Thus even the most recent convert and even the youngest Christian can say, “In time I will abhor what is evil and hold fast to what is good. In time I will put to death all that is earthly in me and come alive to all that is heavenly. In time I will love my enemies and pray fervently for those who persecute me. In time I will be marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. In time I will come to be so much holier than I ever believed possible. In time.”
And in that moment of confident proclamation he ought to expect that the temper, the discourager, will whisper, “You foolish young Christian, will you be all this? Can you be all this?” And it then falls to him to answer back, “Yes, God and I.” For though it is He who demands, it is He who provides. It is He who works within, both to will and to work.
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Free Stuff Fridays (Christian Focus Publications)
This week’s Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by Christian Focus Publications. They are giving away God’s Daring Dozen Box Sets 1 & 2 to five winners.
Often overlooked, the twelve books between Hosea and Malachi have much to teach the church today – and that includes our children. Brian Wright and John Brown have written the God’s Daring Dozen series to present the stories of the Minor Prophets in a colorful, accessible, way that will engage children, so they can learn the timeless truths God has told us through His inspired word.
The first box includes:Haggai’s Feast
Habakkuk’s Song
Zephaniah’s Hero
Obadiah and the EdomitesThe second box includes:
Jonah’s Journeys
Malachi’s Final Message
Nahum and the Ninevites
Joel and the LocustsHere is what people have said about the series:
Too many people—kids and parents—miss out on the rich truths of the Minor Prophets. So I am happy to recommend God’s Daring Dozen by Dr. Wright and Pastor Brown as a rich resource for young and old alike. This fresh look at an overlooked book will bless you and your children.
Dianne Jago, Mother of three, founder of Deeply Rooted Magazine, & author of A Holy Pursuit: How the Gospel Frees Us to Follow and Lay Down Our Dreams
The entire Bible, even the section called the Minor Prophets, is relevant for God’s people, including children. Kudos to the authors for making the Minor Prophets accessible to children through these illustrated, engaging summaries of each of the twelve books.
Robert B. Chisholm, Jr., Chair and Professor of Old Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary, Texas & author of Interpreting the Minor Prophets and Handbook on the ProphetsBrian Wright and John Brown provide beautifully crafted and compelling renditions of the Minor Prophets in ways that we and our children can understand better the powerful message of these books of the Bible. They carefully uncover the ancient context of these messages while bringing them forward to our day, and in ways our children can understand. I have no doubt of the tremendous benefit these will prove to be for countless Christian parents and churches.
Bruce Ware, Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky & author of Big Truths for Young HeartsTO ENTER
To have a chance of winning these books, enter your email below. The giveaway closes on March 16th 2023, and winners will be contacted by email. -
A La Carte (November 19)
The Lord be with you and the Lord bless you today.
I wanted to remind you of my site SquareQuotes where you can freely download hundreds of the quote graphics I share every day.
Borrowing from the KJV Bank and Trust
This is a good article from a new site titled Text & Canon (which is associated with Phoenix Seminary). “The KJV translators were not KJV-Only. It is actually those who wish to see the venerable King James revised who are most honoring the KJV tradition.”
Battle Commence
“The prayer meeting is the battle ground on which the church fights together for the advancement of the kingdom. Of all the reforms that a pastor can agitate for in the life of his congregation, the one that will be the lifeblood of further reformation is the gathering of the saints in a concert of prayer.”
Missional Wear: Early Black Friday Deals!
Worldwide shipping delays and supply chain challenges make it more important than ever to get your Christmas shopping done early. Check out some of the best deals of the year while they last! (Sponsored Link)
It’s Not Your body
“We’re (rightly) eager to teach our children the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touch. We don’t want them to be abused or to abuse others. But how do we arm them intellectually to resist such abuse? Western culture tells them to oppose abuse ‘because it’s your body’.” But perhaps there is a better thing to say…
Intergenerational Church
I appreciated this little acknowledgement of the sheer goodness of an intergenerational church.
How Ocean Shipping Works (And Why It’s Broken)
This helpful video explains how ocean shipping works and how it has gotten so badly broken in recent months.
Raising Little Flowers
I thorough enjoyed this story in WORLD by Emily Belz. “Crystal Hardy-Flowers always wanted her early childcare center in the low-income, high-crime neighborhood of Sandtown-Winchester in Baltimore, Md., to be a safe place for the 200 children who showed up every day.”
Flashback: Give Me a Man with an Open Bible!
…as Christians, we must insist that authority is not derived first from experience, but from Scripture. Greater than our need for people who have experienced it in their lives, is our need for people who will teach it from the Word.Unbelief is the cause of all our troubles and failures. This is the strategic point where Satan concentrates his forces against us, and therefore it is here above all that we need divine help. —A.W. Pink
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A La Carte (October 4)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I added a few Kindle deals on Sunday night and will look for more on Monday morning.
(Yesterday on the blog: When Blooming Youth Is Snatched Away)
Should I Look for a Better Job?
“How do you know when to take another job? I’ve been at my current workplace for two years. Everything is fine here, but I think I could push myself harder and learn more at another employer. Is it time to move on?” This is a solid answer to a common question.
Christian Practice In The Face Of Corrupt Police
“The police. They have often been ranked as the most corrupt sector of many African governments. These should-be law and justice enforcers are often seen acting as decided obstructionists. It’s hard to argue that police corruption in the form of bribery and extortion is not endemic in our continent. This is especially true in Sub-Saharan Africa.” I appreciated Daniel Gachuki’s take on police corruption.
We Believe: Confessions
There is a new issue of Credo Magazine to read. It’s available for free!
Biblical Justice vs. Mob Justice
Denny Burk looks at some differences between biblical justice and mob justice. “A large part of the drama of A Tale of Two Cities is the depiction of mob justice. What happens when the social order disintegrates, and due process and the rule of law are lost? What happens is that the rights of the accused get trampled under foot.”
The Church as a Radical Welcoming Community
“If all of the people we talk to and share meals with at church are like us, we are not being the community we should be. The church should be a place where everyone is welcome and feels welcome. At church gatherings, we should see older people speaking to teenagers, men speaking to women, singles speaking to marrieds, and those with children speaking to those who do not.”
An Earnest Love
Blake Long: “We are always bickering over something. Maybe it’s high time to express earnest love for those of whom we disagree? Perhaps it’s time to lay down our preferences, lay down our desires, lay down our egos and love each other—even in our disagreements. There has been far too much earnest condescension and not enough earnest love.”
The Gentleness of God
This is a sweet look at our gentle God. “He is indeed great and terrible, to be feared above all other gods; but this only serves to accentuate the wonder of his gentleness and deepen our loving reverence for him. More than this, it provides a vital perspective on his dealings with us – especially when we find ourselves in the midst of seemingly harsh providences.”
Flashback: Hand in Hand, Heart Linked to Heart
My sister shared these words with me–words written by Susannah Spurgeon after the death of her husband Charles. She reflects on life together and the Lord who gives and takes away. They are sweet and precious words.Most frequently we fail in not continuing in prayer until the blessing is obtained, and in not expecting the blessing. —George Müller
