Sometimes we resist that which we need the most. Needs and wants are not the same thing. There are many people in our world who may not want a relationship with Jesus, but the truth is we all need a relationship with Our Saviour Jesus Christ.

It’s easy to get lost in the lie of arrogance that convinces us that we are capable of accomplishing our goals all on our own. That’s the lie a society devoid of divine truth teaches.

Jesus teaches us that He is the source of divine power that we need to connect to if we want to succeed. Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Wisdom and intelligence are not the same thing. It’s possible to be intelligent and to lack wisdom.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10

We have many intelligent people on earth that are financially wealthy and powerful by society’s standards, yet these people may lack wisdom if they do not have faith in God and understand that this life is but a gateway to an eternity of tomorrows.

It is wise to plan for eternal life. It is wise to understand that we will not enter Paradise without first being judged by God.  Jesus saves those who seek His forgiveness so  it is wise to be reconciled to God through the saving grace of Jesus Christ so we can enjoy the promise of eternal life in Heaven.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24

“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19: 20-21

It is wise to commit our lives to the Lord’s purpose, which is to love one another.

“What is desirable in a man is his kindness, and it is better to be a poor man than a liar. The fear of the LORD leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.” Proverbs 19: 22-23

Sometimes we lie to ourselves. We believe that if we had just a little more wealth or a little more power or a little more pleasure in our life we would be fulfilled. But the truth is that money, power and pleasure, do not fulfill the soul, although they might satisfy our flesh for a little while. The soul, unlike the flesh, is only satisfied as we commit to God’s purpose, and enter into the safety and privilege of a divine relationship with Jesus Christ.

True inner peace comes from committing our lives to the glory of God. That is the path that leads to eternal joy and peace in the next life and it also leads to a deep inner joy in this life.

Did you know that the rewards we receive in the after life depend on the choices we make in this life?

Jesus says, “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.” Revelation 22:12

The realization that our eternal reward depends on the actions we take in this life should motivate us to pray for the gift of faith.

I like to think of faith as the root of a tree that bears much fruit. The root of faith unites us to the love of Jesus, a love that inspires us, heals us, comforts us and guides us to make choices that are wise and loving.

Try to imagine it…

The root of faith is tightly intertwined in the rich soil of divine love. The root is in a tender, loving embrace with its Divine Creator and Saviour Jesus Christ. Just as the branch is sustained by the vine, so too is the entire life of the tree sustained by the root that is living and nourished by the divine power of God. The branches of the tree spread out like arms open to the promise of an embrace, reaching up to the stars in a majestic expression of hopeful anticipation. The leaves and the fruit of the tree are the signs that the tree is alive and healthy, fulfilling its promise season after season.

So using this imagery…

The “root” of the tree represents faith intimately united to the divine love of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit;

The “branches” of the tree, open to the promise of a fruitful embrace represent hopeful anticipation;

And the “leaves” and the “fruit of the tree” represents the fulfillment of the tree’s potential, love reproduced season after season.

“Three things will last forever–faith, hope, and love–and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” 1 John 4:16

In the Bible there is a reference to a very special tree called “The Tree of Life”. The Tree of Life is in the Garden of Eden and it is in Paradise too.

“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22:2

Jesus is the Tree of Life that heals our souls and heals the nations of the world that choose to believe in Him.

Jesus died on the Tree that gives life to all believers. The tree that was cut down and fashioned into the Holy Cross of Jesus first had to die to assist God in His divine plan of salvation.

If we want to participate in God’s plan of salvation, helping others to find faith in Jesus we must die to our selfishness and open our arms in hope to the divine embrace of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

To unite to Jesus in a communion where nothing separates us and to deny ourselves and give our lives fully to God for His glory is the beginning of a transformed life where we discover the true meaning of our life and our true identity as disciples of Christ.

One of the greatest mysteries I have learned is that denial of self is the opportunity for divine indulgence. The more I have denied myself, the closer and closer Jesus has come to me. Our embrace grew more and more tender and intimate the more I prayed “I surrender my life to You Holy Lord, use it as You will.”

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls.” Proverbs 11:30

We cannot redeem souls; only the Holy Blood of Jesus atones for our sins, but we can help one another to discover what it means to have faith and to find eternal life in the divine embrace of Our Saviour Jesus Christ.

I am convinced that in the tenderness of our relationship with Jesus Christ we can have a foretaste of Paradise. Even my friends have noticed I have a deep inner peace and no I’m not on tranquilizers. My peace comes from living in a holy communion with Jesus that is so powerful and so comforting that I am persistently aware that I am living in His divine presence, moment by moment, day after day.

Over the last ten years I have spent a great deal of time in solitude, in prayer and in contemplation of God’s Word, and at first I will admit to you I felt lonely in the deep solemn silence, but in time I realized that I was not alone. I realized I was in the holy presence of Jesus and that Jesus would always be with me to teach me, to console me, to inspire me, to guide me and to love me and if you invite Jesus into your life, He will be there for you too.  Jesus is ready to embrace all who will love Him and trust Him.   Let Jesus take you on a deep spiritual journey that will change your life!  Open your heart to Jesus in a total surrender and get ready to be transformed!

We can all have access to God’s divinity and power today. We must approach Him with reverence and with sorrow for our sins, and if we do that we can be sure that God will forgive us and heal our souls. The deep problems we have in our world stem from one key issue and that issue is UNBELIEF.

UNBELIEF HINDERS WHAT GOD CAN DO FOR US!

“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1: 5-8

How can a tree bear fruit if the root withers and dies?

It cannot.

Nor can we fulfill our true potential without entering into and remaining in the divine embrace of Jesus. He will give us faith and sustain our faith if we trust in His unfailing love.

As we journey towards Easter let us take some time to reflect on how strong is our faith. Is it bearing fruit?

“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:26

I invite you to enter into the divine embrace of Jesus and JUST BELIEVE!

Believe in Jesus’ love for you, for it is infinite and His love will never let you down. Ask for His forgiveness and receive a new start in life so you can become exactly who you are supposed to be–a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Join disciples of Jesus that stop to honour Him, as we pray and remember how much Jesus suffered on the Cross to save us, every day @ the Time Jesus died for us, 3pm (in our local time zones).  Stop at this time, if but for a few moments, and look at your Lord and Saviour suffering and dying on the Cross for you and me and all who will believe in Him.  Give Jesus your heart and enter into the most powerful embrace you will ever enter into—the Divine Embrace of Our Saviour Jesus Christ – True God, True Man.

I love You Jesus! You are my heart’s desire!