(a tree by Hermon Springs, Israel)
A friend of mine reminded me of a passage in Jeremiah that got me thinking. He was captivated by the contrast of the passage. Let me share the passage and let's talk about it-
Jer 17:5-8- Thus says the LORD, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD. "For he will be like a bush in the desert And will not see when prosperity comes, But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, A land of salt without inhabitant. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. "For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.
God is sure good at making things clear. He leaves us with no confusion about the lives of those who trust in him and those who don't. What a contrast! God makes it clear how these lives will turn out, doesn't he? To be a "tumbleweed" or a tree with an endless supply of water....let's see...which would be better? Wow, what a contrast. So it's obvious that who you trust in is really important. Trust in one who gives you some stability and life or trust in one who leaves you driven and tossed by every wind.
Sounds like it should be an easy choice, but I'm always surprised by my choices....I often realize that I have trusted in man in one way or another, and I am like that old tumbleweed when I do...unsure, unstable, not attached, not secure, wandering. Trusting in man is an unstable place to stand. I know better, but I do it so easily....that trusting in man thing. Trusting in man, at its best, will leave me dry, brittle, unstable, driven by every wind of emotion, lifeless, temporary.
But what a difference to trust in God...a tree by the stream...deep roots getting water...green leaves...not worried about drought. Now that's stability, security, life. I truly want to be like that tree- stable, strong, alive, productive, enduring.
Lord, help me to trust in the right things. Help me to keep my eyes on you. Help me to trust in you alone. I want to be like that tree by the spring...green and alive even in a drought. Make me aware of when I foolishly put my trust in man, and help me quickly deal with that sin. Thanks for being my stream of living water.
4 comments:
Mike,
Thank you for posting that verse and your commentary. It made me realize just how thirsty I am right now. I have let confusion and disappointment in others cloud my vision. Thank you for the reassurance that you do that too sometimes. It can be so demoralizing to get caught in the unending cycle of questioning things that happen through a flesh centered view point, losing sight of He who strengthens me, and tumbling off through the wasteland of anger and frustration. You always seem so right on point, choosing to point to specific verses where I can feed myself. So thank you.
Mike,
I know that everybody has their own personal struggles when it comes to trusting God. We are fallen beings and we make bad choices. My mind knows that but, my heart seems to forget that sometimes and I end up feeling like I'm the worse or only one messing it up so badly. So, I thank you for reminding me that I am not the only one. And I thank you for sharing that verse that so vividly illustrates what will happen in the lives of those who trust in Him.
Sovereign Father, heavenly King,
Thee we now presume to sing;
Glad thine attributes confess,
Glorious all, and numberless.
-Charles Wesley
Another one...
Always the most revealing thing about the Church is her idea about GOD, just as her most significant message is what she says about HIM or leaves unsaid, for her silence is often more eloquent than her speech.
-A.W. Tozer
-Chapter One of 'The Knowledge of the Holy'
I have you and Mike Farney for exposing this to me and I thank you.
I have dwelled on this thought often.
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