Jeremiah 17:7-8 "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." English Standard Version (ESV)
Yesterday we considered "the path of life" in Psalm 16, realizing that our life is a journey a pilgrimage of following Christ. Today's verses refers to God followers as being firmly planted. Along that path of our lifetime we will be planted in different places, the key is that "trusting in the Lord". Our society tends to approve of and praise the independent person, the self-sufficient, the achiever the ones who trust in themselves and don't want to, and feel they don't need help from anyone, let alone God. They look at those who trust in God as people who need a crutch, something to help boost them up.
The Message in verse 5 starts out by saying "cursed is the strong one", thinking that they can get by on their own strength they are setting themselves up for a fall and when they do, like Humpty Dumpty they'll fall to pieces and won't be able to pull themselves together again. Some of us may have been there ourselves at some point in our lives.
The firmly planted tree has deep roots, roots that find access to the stream even in the droughts of summer. He is sustained by what lies beneath the surface and may not be visible to others, but his life gives evidence to the source. The "tumbleweed on the prairie" (v.6) has no roots. When the drought comes it dries up and is uprooted and blown away by the wind.
The author of Hebrews saw the same thing that the prophet Jeremiah did, we are to trust, to have faith in what we do not see.
Faith in What We Don't See
11 1-2 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. Hebrews 11:1-2 The Message (MSG)
If you have some time over the next couple of days, read through Hebrews 11, the "Hall of Faith". You'll see a list of people who didn't trust in themselves but leaned and trusted in God, lived by faith, and were blessed by God. May it be the same with us.
Blessings,
Mike
Jeremiah 17:5-8The Message (MSG)
5-6 God's Message:
"Cursed is the strong one
who depends on mere humans,
Who thinks he can make it on muscle alone
and sets God aside as dead weight.
He's like a tumbleweed on the prairie,
out of touch with the good earth.
He lives rootless and aimless
in a land where nothing grows.
who depends on mere humans,
Who thinks he can make it on muscle alone
and sets God aside as dead weight.
He's like a tumbleweed on the prairie,
out of touch with the good earth.
He lives rootless and aimless
in a land where nothing grows.
7-8 "But blessed is the man who trusts me, God,
the woman who sticks with God.
They're like trees replanted in Eden,
putting down roots near the rivers—
Never a worry through the hottest of summers,
never dropping a leaf,
Serene and calm through droughts,
bearing fresh fruit every season.
the woman who sticks with God.
They're like trees replanted in Eden,
putting down roots near the rivers—
Never a worry through the hottest of summers,
never dropping a leaf,
Serene and calm through droughts,
bearing fresh fruit every season.
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