Keys to the Kingdom Series
Click for Audio: Figs and Thorns
“ … for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.” Luke 6:44
The imagery presented in this simple line makes it clear that you cannot get something desirable from something that is undesirable. We know that a thorn bush will not produce figs or, in desert terms, a cactus will not produce peaches, so we will not go to a thorn bush or a cactus to get grapes or peaches.
Are we, in more subtle ways that we may not be aware of, attempting to attain something good and usable from something that is incapable of producing good and usable things? The keys to the kingdom, we are discovering, are not found among outer conditions or things. They are found in unseen attitudes and beliefs that affect our relationship with God.
One of the most common thorn bushes we visit is that of fear. When we are presented with overwhelming conditions or we are threatened by the potential loss of something we value, we often run to this thorn bush of fear. We do so because in some strange way we believe we can draw something of value from fear. Perhaps fear provides us with the kind of motivation we think we need to move forward in life. Or fear may allow us to build a protective wall around ourselves that will keep us out of harm’s way. Fear, however, does not produce the fruit of freedom that we desire. Only the decision to transcend fear will give us this fruit.
God, as the source of our being, is an eternal fountain of life, intelligence, power, and love. Because fear is not a natural aspect of this fountain, our spiritual work, when we are confronted with fear, is to release the kvinnlig viagra online fear and open our minds and hearts to that inner fountain of fearlessness. Meditating on the following thought will bring you to this inner fountain:
God as my Source did not give me a spirit of fear. I am filled with new life, greater wisdom, unlimited power, and the guidance of pure love. I know what to do, and I do it.