SAPS A RISIN’

Early each spring our family goes to a “Saps a Risin’” festival. We enjoy walking through the woods and seeing how maple syrup was made through the years. They say it takes over 40 gallons of sap to be boiled down to produce just 1 gallon of syrup. That’s a lot of water!

• The trees of the Lord are full of sap.
  Psalms 104:16 NKJV

Sap gives life to a tree. Other versions translate this verse saying the trees of the Lord are “watered abundantly” or “well cared for.” Unless a tree’s roots drink in water the sap dries up and the tree dies.

We can be the trees of the Lord overflowing with life by the Holy Spirit living within us. Calling yourself a Christian or attending church is meaningless, a dead thing that our culture does not understand. Being a “Christian” is popular in America, but means nothing more than attending church, trying to live a moral life, and being a part of the conservative political movement that voted for Bush. For many, Christians are hypocrites who preach one thing but do another. Sadly this is the case as many so called Christians live lives that are virtually indistinguishable from those who claim no Christian faith.

In the same way sap is mysteriously drawn into a tree to give it life, true Christians, disciples of Jesus Christ, must be filled with the Spirit of life. The spiritual life of a believer is a supernatural work whereby we are born again to live a new life. We were dead in our sins, but now we have been made alive—full of SAP, Spirit and power!

As the roots of a tree dig deep into the soil, our Root is Jesus. Our life comes from Him. And just as the sap actively gives life to a tree so it can grow and produce fruit, the life of Christ in us is permanently active within us energizing us to be fruitful, not just in season but always! The fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit are graces that flow from within us moment by moment—day by day. Yes, we are trees of the Lord full of SAP!

What our family enjoys most about “Saps a Risin’” is sitting in the park lodge eating fresh maple snacks. The natural sweetness is a treat that brings us back year after year. That’s how our lives should taste in the world. The sweetness of the life of Christ should be evident drawing others to Jesus. Why? We are full SAP—Spirit and power! What do you think?