 Weekly Devotional |
October 13, 2026 · Anne Barkley |
“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” |
This week’s devotional explores the Tree of Life throughout Scripture, from the Garden of Eden to its restoration in Revelation. Along the way, we discover how God’s Word brings life, strengthens believers, and equips us to stand against the enemy. |
Through God’s wisdom and the power of His Word, we are called to speak words that encourage, heal, and lead others toward Christ. As we hold fast to His promises, we find our hope in Jesus—the Way, the Truth, and the Life. |
Our speaker last Sunday asked the question: “Have you ever wondered why the Bible starts and ends with ‘the Tree of Life’?” |
Before God mentions the Tree of Life in Genesis, God spoke and living things and beings came into existence. With each phase of Creation, we read “God spoke.” God spoke words of life to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28 and said, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and conquer it.” |
Then in Genesis 2:8–9 we read “The LORD planted a garden in the east and there He put the man whom He had formed. Then the LORD God caused to sprout from the ground every tree that was desirable to look at and good for food. Now the Tree of Life was in the middle of the garden, and also the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.” |
Then in Genesis 2:15–17 we read: “Then the LORD God took the man and gave him rest in the Garden of Eden in order to cultivate and watch over it. Then the LORD God commanded, the man saying, ‘From all the trees of the garden you are most welcome to eat. But of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil you must not eat. For when you eat from it, you most assuredly will die.” |
God set forth the way of life—He spoke life to them but gave a choice to humankind—choose life or death. Adam and Eve chose to reject God’s words of life and were expelled from the Garden and access to the Tree of Life. |
In Deuteronomy 12:32 Moses admonished the people of Israel concerning God’s Words: “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” Jesus repeated this command in Matthew 4:4: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” |
In Revelation 2:7 we read: “To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” This is the same placement the Tree of Life had in the Garden of Eden, in the center. The Tree of Life reveals that God is the source of eternal life; and He is to be at the center of our life both here and in eternity. |
Soon after, the Tree of Life came into focus, God declared, “And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the Tree of Life, and eat, and live forever’—therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man, and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the Tree of Life.” (Genesis 3:22–24) |
It is very interesting that a sword guards the way to the Tree of Life. The word “sword” in Scripture is used as an analogy for the Word of God. |
All Christian soldiers need training in properly handling the Sword of the Spirit, “which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17) |
Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16–17 reveals: “All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for restoration, and for training in righteousness, so that the person belonging to God may be capable, fully equipped for every good deed.” |
Just as Adam and Eve were caught in the satanic and evil forces of this world, every Christian is also experiencing the same spiritual battle. Eve, then Adam succumbed to the desires of the flesh and the deception and falsehood of Satan because they failed to adhere to God’s words of life. |
Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:3–6 warns: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but powerful through God for the tearing down of strongholds. We are tearing down false arguments and every high-minded thing that exalts against the knowledge of God. We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ—ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.” |
The “Sword of the Spirit” is our offensive weapon we use to demolish strongholds of error and falsehood. |
God refers to His Word as a sword in Hebrews 4:12. Here the Word is described as living and active and sharper than a double-edged sword. The fact that it had two edges made it easier to penetrate, as well as to cut in every way. The idea is that of piercing, or penetrating; the Word of God reaches the “heart,” the very center of action, and lays open the motives and feelings of those it touches. |
The purpose of the sword of the Spirit—the Bible—is to make us strong and able to withstand the evil onslaughts of Satan, our enemy. The Holy Spirit uses the power of the Word to save souls and then to give spiritual strength to be mature soldiers for the Lord in fighting this corrupt and evil world we live in. The more we know and understand the Word of God, the more useful we will be in doing the will of God and the more effective we will be in standing against the enemy of our souls. When we overcome by the power of God’s word, we will be able to eat of the Tree of Life in the Paradise of God! |
The Tree of Life appears four times in the Book of Proverbs, serving as a metaphor for the life-giving, sustaining power of wisdom, righteousness, and godly speech. These references echo the original Tree of Life in Genesis 2–3, presenting the pursuit of divine wisdom as the pathway to regain the lost Edenic experience of the Covenant Life with the LORD. |
Proverbs 3:13–18 lists the rewards of those who embrace the wisdom of God—happiness, length of days, riches and honor, and peace. “She is a Tree of Life to those who embrace her and blessed will be all who hold firmly to her.” (v. 18) |
In Proverbs 11:30 we see the fruit of the righteous is a Tree of Life, specifically linked to those who “win souls.” |
Jesus left His followers with the command and the authority to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you. And remember! I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19–20) |
We are challenged today to be laborers in the final harvest of souls before the Church is raptured—to serve as Christ’s ambassadors—to let Christ’s love for us become love flowing through us to others. |
In Proverbs 13:12 we read: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but longing fulfilled is a Tree of Life.” |
Our world today is in need of hope—the Blessed Hope in Jesus Christ. Titus 2:12–13 says that the grace of God teaches us “to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. |
The trials of this life will be over, and we will see that “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18) |
The hope does not communicate uncertainty or wishful thinking but the assurance that we have in Jesus that no one can take away. “Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5) |
We must stand firm and claim the promises of God because they are God’s Words of Life! |
God connects the Tree of Life with the tongue in Proverbs 15:4: “A gentle tongue (with its healing power) is a Tree of Life, but willful contrariness in it breaks down the spirit.” |
Verse seven instructs us to have lips of the wise that dispense knowledge, not like the minds and hearts of the self-confident and foolish. |
Verse 11 reminds us that nothing is hidden from God—warning that the final place of the accuser Satan is before the Lord and how much more then the hearts of the children of man. |
Verses 22–23 encourage us to speak words of life. “Where there is no counsel, purposes are frustrated, but with many counselors they are accomplished. A man has joy in making an apt answer, and a word spoken at the right moment—how good it is!” |
This is a reminder to watch our words because they are like feathers dispensed from a pillow and cannot be retrieved! |
Verse 28 encourages us to think about what we are thinking about: “The mind of the (uncompromisingly) righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.” |
These metaphors of the Tree of Life are the spiritual alternative to the physical immortality lost in the Fall, where holding fast to God’s wisdom restores the soul (mind, will, and emotions) and points toward the restoration of the Tree in Revelation. |
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life: |
In John 14:6, Jesus declares, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” |
The Way signifies that Jesus is the only path to the Father, having prepared a place for believers and opened the route through His sacrifice. |
Let’s go back to the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the garden. It was eating of the fruit of that tree that introduced sin and brought the curse upon humanity. In Deuteronomy 21:23 we read that everyone who hangs on a tree for a capital crime is “cursed by God.” |
In the New Testament, Galatians 3:13 references this Old Testament law to explain the significance of the crucifixion. The Apostle Paul writes that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, applying the “hanged man” to Jesus’ death on the cross. |
Jesus took upon Himself the curse deserved by humanity, so that by believing and trusting in Him we can be redeemed from the curse and enter into fellowship with the Father. |
The truth indicates that Jesus embodies ultimate reality and divine revelation, rather than merely speaking truth. Jesus gave His life that whosoever believes in and trusts in Him will have eternal life! |
The Life affirms that He is the source of eternal and abundant life, overcoming death through His resurrection. “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life; and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11–12) |
Life Eternal—the Tree of Life: |
Revelation 22:1–2 notes that the Tree of Life is situated by the “pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the Throne of God and of the Lamb.” |
In Paradise, the River of Life flows from God’s throne and situated on its banks is the Tree of Life, providing nourishment and healing for the nations. |
There will be no disease in the new heaven and new earth, and the curse will be removed. (v. 3) There will be no more night and we will not need lamplight or sunlight—for the Lord God will shine on us and reign forever and ever! |
The Tree’s final biblical mention is in verse 14 and says, “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life and may enter through the gates into the city.” |
The Tree of Life model is about thriving, not just surviving, and helping others do the same. It addresses brokenness and trauma as part of one’s history, a place to find healing. |
Currently, a storm has swept over our nation, but we are not alone. God wants to help us get through this but not just get through it—flourish! He wants to strengthen our faith and belief in Him—to deepen our roots. |
Our world is like a tree swaying heavily, but God wants to lift and push us upright so that we STAND strong in Him as mighty oaks for the Kingdom and His glory. |
God wants to produce a beautiful testimony of His goodness and righteousness—His words of life through each of us! He will do this as we fix our eyes on Jesus—the Tree of Life and hold on to His words of life and speak them to others! |
Genesis 2:8–9; 3:22–24 · Revelation 2:7; 22:1–3, 14 |
God’s Word and Spiritual Strength |
Deuteronomy 12:32 · Matthew 4:4 · 2 Corinthians 10:3–6 · Ephesians 6:17 · 2 Timothy 3:16–17 · Hebrews 4:12 |
Proverbs 3:13–18; 11:30; 13:12; 15:4–5, 7, 11, 22–23, 28 |
Jesus, the Way and the Life |
Deuteronomy 21:23 · John 14:6 · Galatians 3:13 · 1 John 5:11–12 |
Romans 5:5; 8:18 · Titus 2:12–13 |
Genesis 1:28 · Matthew 28:19–20 |
Preserving Betty Jo Hardy’s devotional legacy and continuing the ministry through Anne Barkley. |
| From The Throne Ministry | A weekly devotional ministry continuing the legacy of Betty Jo Hardy through Anne Barkley. | You are receiving this devotional because you subscribed to From the Throne or previously requested to receive these messages. | |
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