Hi Faith Family!
How do you like the above olive tree? It is an oldie but a goodie. Olive trees have been known to live for hundreds of years. What a picture of longevity--a Methuselah-like presence rooted in this earth. A tree like the one above has flourished for centuries.
How about you? Are you thriving, spiritually? Are you flourishing? It is a way-cool way God describes those who believe and trust only in him. Check out this section from Psalm 52:
"But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints."
The act of moving from "surviving" to "thriving" is fueled by God's love which He describes in this verse as "unfailing . . . for ever and ever." Take a trip with me if you feel tired, worn down, troubled, or guilty. Take a trip with me to another tree. The one on which the accursed one was hung. There, on Golgotha, God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God.
Jesus gave you a fresh start when that cross of his was planted in the ground. Jesus assures you that your sins have been forgiven.
I like the Psalmist's reaction to the love shown by God: praise, hope, praise. First of all, we can take the Psalmist's lead and praise God for what He has done for each of us. The gift is for all, but the gift is personal to you. Know and believe that what Jesus did to save the world he did to save you. Jesus loved and loves you. How awesome! Praise God!
Hope. This is not "I sure hope we have pizza for supper tonight" kind of hope. Hope from God's perspective is something sure and certain, just hasn't happened yet. Heaven is what we hope for.
Praise. The act so nice they named it twice. At the mention of sure hope, the Psalmist resorts back to default position: praise. Praise God for all life's happenings. Not a bad idea. On your computer, often there is a "restore defaults" option. Why not make "praise God" your default position? When joys along with difficutlies come.
I pray you are flourishing like an olive tree, planted along the banks of the water of life, yeilding your fruit of faith in season. Your leaves will not wither. Everything you do will prosper in the garden where you are planted, until you eat of the fruit of the tree of life. But today is not that day. God strengthen and energize you to continue to flourish until that day.
Prayer idea: Give thanks for your Savior Jesus and all he endured for your soul's salvation. Spend a moment to consider Jesus' time on the cross, giving thanks for his committed love toward you. Pray for someone you know who does not yet believe in Jesus.
Blessings on your week!
--Pastor Dan
Feel free to browse the archived devotions on this page. The devotion "cresting @ the right time" comes with a few customer recommendations, if you haven't read it yet. Update from that devotion: Co-sign Binh was in my office this morning with a beautiful new set of choppers! He has his U.S. Citizenship, U.S. Passport, and a brand new set of pearly-whites. As always, please don't forget to floss!