On the 2nd Day of Christmas Past,
Question: What can we learn from TWO seas in Palestine?
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“There are two seas in Palestine”
Around Christmas time in 1928, McCall’s magazine ran an article written by Bruce Barton….
“There are two seas in Palestine. One is fresh, and fish are in it. Splashes of green adorn its banks. Trees spread their branches over it, and stretch out their thirsty roots to sip of its healing waters.
Along its shores the children play, as children played when He was there. He loved it. He could look across its silver surface when He spoke His parables. And on a rolling plain not far away He fed five thousand people.
The river Jordan makes this sea with sparkling water from the hills. So it laughs in the sunshine. And men build their houses near to it, and birds their nests; and every kind of life is happier because it is there.
The river Jordan flows on south into another. Here is no splash of fish, no fluttering leaf, no song of birds, no children’s laughter. Travelers choose another route, unless on urgent business. The air hangs heavy above its waters, and neither man nor beast nor fowl will drink.
What makes this mighty difference in these neighbor seas? Not the river Jordan. It empties the same good water into both. Not the soil in which they lie; not the country round about.
This is the difference. The Sea of Galilee receives but does not keep the Jordan. For every drop that flows into it another drop flows out. The giving and receiving go on in equal measure.
The other sea is schrewder, hoarding its income jealously. It will not be tempted into any generous impulse. Every drop it gets it keeps.
The Sea of Galilee gives and lives. This other sea gives nothing. It is named The Dead.
There are two kinds of people in the world. There are two seas in Palestine.”
We can live in Christ or die without him. This is a powerful contrast of our choices!
Aa is life. We can choose to live, love and give to others abd be happy. Or be unhappy in all we do
You are always happier when you serve others. In turn, rich blessings come back to you. If you choose to withdraw, your life feels empty…of love and blessings.
As we receive we must give. To receive and not give means a true loss of who we can become. One example would be the talents all have been blessed with, all, and to share that talent means magnifying that tremendous gift, lifting others and so forth. If we fail to share and lift others, we will lose that gift.
One life is selfish, always taking and never giving.
One life is forever sharing all they have with others.
All things testify of Christ and His gospel. If we have eyes to see, we will recognize it.
As with the two sea, the one that gives…lives and that which holds back becomes stagnant.
It is only through giving, can we truly receive. Our lives are enriched by the service we give others.
To receive and give is life giving, just as the Sea of Galilee shows us. To only receive leads to a bitter, lonely and depressing death, just as the Dead Sea shows us. This story reminds me of a saying. Be a fountain, not a drain.
The Earth provides all that grants life. Food and water flow through us, feeding our bodies, and when we die those bodies return to the natural world. But there is more to life that sustains us. Giving of ourselves, loving others as we would want them to love them and many other acts help us to not be the selfish Dead Sea that everyone makes a point to stay away.
We all have choices. Give and be fulfilled, or keep our gifts and become stagnant and wither and die.
when we give we receive so much more than we ever gave. Heavenly Father always blesses us when we help others.
I have had the opportunity to put my feet in both of these bodies of water. I could feel the difference just by stepping into each for a few moments. One is stagnant without life. The other is vibrant and giving life. “Giving” is a large part of Christmas. Giving as our Father gave His Son. Giving as we should to all around us. May we be ‘giving’ this Christmas Season.
We have to hold on tight to what is important. We need to center our lives on him and share his live.