Welcome to Black Rock Church of the Brethren

No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good person brings good things out of the good stored up in their heart, and an evil one brings evil things out of the evil stored up in their heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:43-45

Boy, as a Christian, I’d be glad sometimes if people weren’t watching. Sometimes I just wanna be bad, sometimes I just want some time off. Jesus, can’t you just let me take a break. I wanna complain, I wanna be angry, I wanna be stressed out. It’s making me feel great, never mind I’ll crash in a bit, just let me go for now.

Sorry friends, bad news for us, we don’t get time off. Jesus doesn’t give us a break. Is that a blessing or a curse? Well, it’s all in who you are, and how you look at it. And the most interesting part, no one, absolutely no one can see your heart. You ever thought about that? Even the people who know you the best don’t know what you’re thinking! No one sees the changes which go on in the heart or the mind, other than God that is.

So, I’ll ask again, is that a blessing or a curse? Sometimes, it’d be nice to turn God away from our hearts for a bit. Well in my mind, what a blessing God’s always there, because even in my moments of weakness, he somehow has a way of making sure I don’t do anything rash. I’ll fully admit, I walk around my room sometimes having imaginary conversations of what I’d like to say or do to this person or that person, I think about how I’d love to break ties with people after I’ve been hurt, I think about commiserating with people who wanna be miserable. It gives me a sick sense of joy and togetherness.

And then, God pokes me and says, Brandon, wake up! It’s all in me, not in you. So, I wonder, as we’re weak, how do those reminders happen for you? How does God pull you back to say, be a good tree, growing for Jesus? Do you want people to be growing in him when you have to wait in long lines, when you’re stuck in traffic, when you have to take one pill after another, when you’re struggling with circumstances at work, school or home, when you have no answers to dealing with difficult people? Are you a tree for Jesus, helping others grow? Where is your heart? You don’t have to tell anyone else; it matters to him.

So, time off? It’s amazing! But what if God said, I’d rather not take time for you today, would we be okay with that?

Friends, let’s remember how blessed we truly are, knowing who we are and what we are will show up no matter what. Let’s, with God’s help, have what people see and don’t see good not evil. Let’s have our branches fully blooming for Jesus so others can capture his joy. And don’t worry, even if you wanna stop growing, if he’s the seed, you’ll have some help even if your branches seem cut off. So, friends, in the name of Christ this week, be a tree, be a blessing! To God be the glory!

Pastor Brandon