August 2008
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. Jeremiah 17:7
Sometimes God allows us to go through tests and trials that seem too difficult to endure. Listen to how the prophet Jeremiah describes a situation where trusting in human abilities, while tempting to do, is insufficient to our need.
Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah makes a clear contrast between the person who trusts in his own effort to solve problems and the person who trusts in God even when he cannot yet see how things will turn out. The child of God who trusts in Him will bear fruit despite the circumstances in his life. He does not shrivel when the heat comes; in fact, his roots go deeper into God's grace. He continues to bear fruit in spite of his circumstances.
I read an account of plant life in an arid, dry climate. The writer explained that “whenever a plant lives in an arid climate, the roots drive deeper and deeper into the soil to get the water they need. This forces the plant to develop a root system that is far beyond the normal plant because it is forced to go deeper to gain the water it needs.” This is just like our gracious God who sometimes forces us to go deeper into His grace so that our own foundation grows stronger. The lean, dry times of life are designed to accomplish this in us.
Are you in a desert place today? Do you feel dry and parched and need somewhere to turn? If that’s where you are today, ask God to provide you with water for your soul and an abiding trust in His plan. If you do, I’m confident that you will “not cease to bear fruit.”
Pastor
Sometimes God allows us to go through tests and trials that seem too difficult to endure. Listen to how the prophet Jeremiah describes a situation where trusting in human abilities, while tempting to do, is insufficient to our need.
Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah makes a clear contrast between the person who trusts in his own effort to solve problems and the person who trusts in God even when he cannot yet see how things will turn out. The child of God who trusts in Him will bear fruit despite the circumstances in his life. He does not shrivel when the heat comes; in fact, his roots go deeper into God's grace. He continues to bear fruit in spite of his circumstances.
I read an account of plant life in an arid, dry climate. The writer explained that “whenever a plant lives in an arid climate, the roots drive deeper and deeper into the soil to get the water they need. This forces the plant to develop a root system that is far beyond the normal plant because it is forced to go deeper to gain the water it needs.” This is just like our gracious God who sometimes forces us to go deeper into His grace so that our own foundation grows stronger. The lean, dry times of life are designed to accomplish this in us.
Are you in a desert place today? Do you feel dry and parched and need somewhere to turn? If that’s where you are today, ask God to provide you with water for your soul and an abiding trust in His plan. If you do, I’m confident that you will “not cease to bear fruit.”
Pastor
posted by Pastor Lew @ 11:31 AM
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