Submitted by Andrea Plotner
“The Lord called you a thriving olive tree, with fruit beautiful in form.” (Jeremiah 11:6a)
If you’ve ever watched celebrity cooking shows, you’ve likely heard the term E.V.O.O. – Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Often, cooks will check the bottle for the words, “organic first cold pressed” which means the oil was made from the first pressing of the olives, and that it is raw, unfiltered, stone crushed, and pure.
Thinking on purity inspires me both in how I live and in how I study God’s word. Like that first cold press, I am to offer God the first and best of my love, my resources, my thoughts, and my time. I am to keep my heart pure, and allow God to refine me. And, as oil fills vessels, I am to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18) and made useful as a torch alights dark places.
Additionally, when I approach God’s word in study and contemplation, I can be alert to any mention of olives and mine the deeper meanings God that may have hidden within the text such as first fruits, purity, Fruit of the Spirit, or the Holy Spirit.
The olive tree itself makes a fascinating subject for Bible study because it must be pruned to grow well; it takes about 30 years to begin producing olives; and, if mature and healthy, can yield thousands of pounds of fruit and oil each year. The trees are abundant here at Ft. Irwin, and are indeed lovely.
Interestingly, the subjects of olives, olive oil, or olive trees are mentioned 80 times in the Bible. These are familiar references: the dove carrying an olive branch back to Noah, olive oil to light the lamp stand in the tabernacle, Jesus on the Mount of Olives, and more. Use an online Bible search engine to further your research.
And the next time you reach for that bottle of E.V.O.O., remember God’s handiwork of purity and purpose.
Used by permission.
