r L n -- really LOVE now! : The PARABLE of the TEN Tomatoes

Saturday, July 3, 2010

The PARABLE of the TEN Tomatoes

Pastor Jim Baize of Ocean View Church told a parable about ten apples during one of his Sunday sermons. i don't have ten apples to illustrate the parable, but i do have ten, just-picked, fresh tomatoes from the backyard. (This is my take on the parable.)

As a Bible-believing follower of CHRIST JESUS, i believe that everything was created by the one true sovereign GOD -- our Father in Heaven. Therefore, since He is Creator of everything (including me...though He used the physical birth process through my earthly parents to bring me into the world -- Psalm 139:13-16), it makes perfect sense to me that GOD owns everything, including me -- my life, all that i am, and all that i have today. All are gifts from GOD.

The tomatoes in the backyard were planted by my uncle Ricardo and tended by my mom Rose...but GOD gave the increase. I have planted, Apollos watered; but GOD gave the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:6)

These are the early summer bounty of tomatoes, ready for eating...GOD's gifts. (These illustrate but a portion of all the many blessings received each new day.)

These biggest three, i'll use for my grilled cheese sandwich... nothing like a hot off-the-grill cheese and tomato sandwich when famished! (These represent top priorities -- family, health, time.)

These other three, i will use for salsa...with chopped cilantro, onion, jalapeno pepper and ripe avocado. Scooped up with tortilla chips, it's fun food for the 4th of July Independence Day celebration. (These three illustrate what are also very important -- friends, art, personal goals.)

These other three beauties will be healthy snacks -- just sliced and lightly salted. (And these represent lifestyle, money, material necessities.)

Hmmm...this one is certainly not the best. Perhaps i'll give it to my next-door neighbor. It's still usable -- the spoiled part can be cut out and and the rest diced... it'll be perfect for an omelet. (The Holy SPIRIT uses the Conscience to convict: This does not put into practice JESUS' command to love one's neighbor as oneself. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:39)

The story above is about giving back just a portion of what GOD has given. GOD doesn't demand our little bit, nor does He need any of it. He does deserve utmost honor and heartfelt worship, for He is the Giver of all life and all good things. And the part we offer to honor and worship Him must be the best part -- the firstfruits of our time, our talents, our money, our good works -- our very soul. Fear the LORD your GOD, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your GOD with all your heart and with all your soul... (Deuteronomy 10:12)

And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. (2 Chronicles 31:5)

Giving back to GOD is worship... it is thanksgiving... it is obedience for the child of GOD.

To me, GOD owns everything -- GOD controls everything. It is satan's lie that tells me i deserve to take the best for me, myself and i. He has pulled the wool over my eyes if i believe that the money i have is mine to use just for me, myself and i because i made it. And i would be a fool to believe that i have control over my body, my life, my destiny. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. (Psalm 39:5)

Everything i have -- my body, my daily bread, my very life -- are all from GOD. Even my salvation -- my eternal destiny -- is my most precious gift from Him. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17) By the grace of GOD, i am.

As a child of the Father, as a doulos to the Master, as clay to the Potter -- i "tithe"... i give back to GOD what He owns anyway.

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:10)

Through offerings, i give back a portion of the money He allows me to use. Through church ministries and fellowship, i give back the time He permits me to live out. Through sharing His Word (rLn art, blogs, OFF the WALL), i declare -- out of utter gratefulness and love -- that CHRIST alone is Savior and Giver of everlasting Life.

i give back to GOD what He has always owned -- my life. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for GOD loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7) After what CHRIST JESUS has done -- suffered intolerable agony on the Cross as atoning sacrifice so that sinners like me may be saved from eternal Hell -- it is but my reasonable service to offer my body, my life... a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to GOD... (Romans 12:1)

No comments:

my Prayer For You

When i think of the wisdom and scope of GOD's plan, i fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. i pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy SPIRIT. i pray that CHRIST will be more and more at home in your heart as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of GOD's marvelous love.

And may you have the power to understand, as all GOD's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May you experience the love of CHRIST, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from GOD.

Now to Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by CHRIST JESUS to all generations, forever and ever. AMEN!

(Ephesians 3:14-21)

The Great I AM

I AM the Bread of life. He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
(John 6:35)

I AM the Light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life.
(John 8:12)

I AM the Door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I AM the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
(John 10:7, 9)

I AM the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. I AM the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
(John 10:11, 14)

I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. I AM the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
(John 15:1, 5)

I AM the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
(John 11:25)

I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
(John 14:6)

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" JESUS answered, You say rightly that I AM a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the Truth hears My voice.
(John 18:37)

LOVE is...

Though i speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, i have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though i have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though i have all faith, so that i could remove mountains, but have not love, i am nothing.

And though i bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though i give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When i was a child, i spoke as a child, i understood as a child, i thought as a child; but when i became a man, i put away childish things.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now i know in part, but then i shall know just as i also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(I Corinthians 13)

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the LORD always. i will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The LORD is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in CHRIST JESUS.

Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

(Philippians 4:4-8)

How Great Thou Art!

O LORD, my GOD! When i in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hands have made.
i see the stars, i hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

And when i think that GOD, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, i scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When CHRIST shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then i shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, my GOD, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! i once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now i see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour i first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares, i have already come; 'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

The LORD has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, i shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.

The world shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun refuse to shine; but GOD, who called me here below, shall be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun; we've no less days to sing GOD's praise than when we'd first begun.

The Holy BIBLE -- The Word of GOD

The BIBLE contains the mind of GOD, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the CHRISTian's charter. Here is Paradise restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of GOD its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

(Foreword from The Gideons International)

Saturday, July 3, 2010

The PARABLE of the TEN Tomatoes

No comments:

Post a Comment