Make like a tree and ….

Make like a tree and … the punch line to the old joke is leaf(sounds like leave) but today I will say make like a tree and repent.

I was doing my civic duty of social distancing by doing drive through at Rite Aid. I looked over at this tree and I saw this hook shaped branch. I thought wow! That branch completely changed direction and I felt like God said, “what is that a picture of Peter?” At first I didn’t recognize it but then I thought about repentance. Repentance is just that, a change in direction. Spiritually I was going my own way but it was in a direction that took me away from God. When I repented initially and every time since then, I get repointed to God.

This branch was growing straight down and down is the wrong direction for a branch. Branches need to grow up, up towards the sun and the light and life giving. But it was growing down. Away from the sun and light and life. But now it has turned and is growing straight up. Repentance. A change of direction.

Luke 15 has one of the greatest stories of repentance and reconciliation.

“Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:11-24 – NIV

Today would be a good day to repent and come to our father who loves us so much that he gave us Jesus to pay for our mistakes.