Like a Tree Planted by the Water
Jeremiah 17:7-8 But blessed is
That the one who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
Psalms 1:1-3 1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
I love the image these scriptures invoke. A tree is planted just the right distance from the fresh, running water so that the roots are fed the proper nutrients and the results are that the tree bears the exact fruit God intended the tree to bear. How does this apply to us today?
God has a plan and praise His name we are not big enough to change His plans. He gives us all we need to complete His purposes, but we can make things difficult when we wander off of the pathway of holiness. We are not to walk side by side with sinners. Why? Being in the company of sinners for too long tends to get us comfortable with the places where sinners dwell. Soon we are sitting with them and enjoying things never intended for us. Ultimately if we stay too long, we will exchange blessings for curses.
You see, God’s nature never changes. He is a covenant making and a covenant keeping God. Pastor Mark Evans, the senior pastor at “The Church at Rock Creek” taught a comprehensive series on the covenants of God called “No Take Backs,” which began 10/1/23. I encourage you to take the time to watch this series located under the “Media” section of the website. It will be time well spent as you soak up the nutrients of God’s promises and come to understand the importance of God’s covenants.
May we learn each day what God is doing for us and that His promises never change.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
https:// https://churchatrockcreek.com/media/churchatrockcreek.com/media/
Grow in Salvation
1 Peter 2:2-5 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
The Living Stone and a Chosen People
4 As you come to him, the living Stone —rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
After one week of being unable to see, my vision, though still blurry, is returning. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
When I read today’s scriptures, I am initially reminded of trying to find a baby formula that my son would tolerate. Although it has been 48 years in May, I recall being a new mother, trying to care for a newborn while Larry brought home one formula after another. Living from paycheck to paycheck, we could not afford to dispose of these costly items only to replace them with more questionable products. Yet, we went through what seemed like countless formularies before finding one that worked.
Just as newborns must progress from one form of nutrition to another in order to grow strong and healthy, we as Christ followers begin as spiritual babies growing in our knowledge and understanding of who Jesus is and who we are in Him.
I grew up thinking salvation was a one-time experience, but I came to realize that the grace that delivered us from our sin state must grow from justifying us into sanctifying us. And sanctification, that marvelous grace that sets us apart from the world, is a daily process that is perfected only when we have completed our earthly existence.
May we partake of the scriptures daily where we are built up in our most high faith, commune with God without ceasing where we find our spiritual food, and may we never become satisfied with where we are today.
- Higher Ground
- I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
- My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground. - I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground. - I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
Psalms 23 (KJV) A PSALM OF DAVID.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Although David was a king when he wrote these words, he remembered well his days as a young boy shepherding his father’s sheep. He knew that just as he had led the flock away from dry, parched land up to green pastures, his father in heaven would lead him away from fields of want and into pastures of plenty.
The sheep, timid and fearful, would turn away from brooks of fresh water and choose instead to drink from bug infested stagnant water. Likewise, we sometimes settle for areas in life where we know we should move on, but unless the shepherd leads us our fear paralyzes us.
So perhaps today we could begin a new habit, one that starts with thanking God for another day as soon as we open our eyes. After we are really awake, let us reach for our Bible and purposefully read a scripture that will inspire and encourage us to live according to His good will. Then after interceding on behalf of others, go forth in the name of Jesus!
May we never forget that we are not alone.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Springs of Living Water
Jer 2:11 Has a nation ever changed its gods?
(Yet they are not gods at all.)
But my people have exchanged their glorious God
for worthless idols.
12 Be appalled at this, you heavens,
and shudder with great horror,”
declares the Lord.
13 “My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Have you ever read Jeremiah or Lamentations? Jeremiah, who wrote both books, was known as the weeping prophet. He was raised to be a priest, but when he was nineteen God called him to be a prophet. Jeremiah often wept over God’s messages to His people. He loved Jerusalem and it broke his heart to know that Jerusalem was going to fall.
What nation can stand if they exchange the one, true and living God for idols made by hands? Who exchanges springs of living waters for wells dug by hands, broken and dry? Yet, look around the world and you will see things have not changed much. What will enable us to turn away from false idols and look back at the face of Jesus?
We must have an encounter with the Holy Spirit, and we will need to bow before His presence and ask forgiveness for our sins. What are our sins? Whatever separates us from God. When we repent, God will forgive, He will restore us, transform us and we will be reconciled. Then we will receive the living water once again that gives us life and bear much fruit for the kingdom.
May we grow tired of being thirsty and may we drink everyday from the living waters, sharing God’s love with all we meet.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Staying in the Word
Psalms 81:8-12 (NIV) 8 Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—
if you would only listen to me, Israel!
9 You shall have no foreign god among you;
you shall not worship any god other than me.
10 I am the LORD your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.
11 “But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.
Well, this is a depressing scripture. Where is the joy? Where is the hope? Where is the encouragement?
Our joy, hope, and encouragement are found in God’s Word. This verse, found in Nehemiah 8:10, shows that even in our suffering, we can find joy. We can be so short sighted that our present circumstances blur our vision and blind us to the truth of God’s promises. But when we lose sight of God’s promises, we lose sight of God.
May we always look to God ‘s Word for inspiration, comfort and direction as we ask for our daily bread, and as we offer ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 