Planted and Flourishing

Planted and Flourishing

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God.

Psalm 92:12,13

The illustrations of the Manifold Goodness of God greet us on every hand. Our text for today is vivid in imagery. We see in our mind’s eye, the graceful palms and stately cedars. What appeals to us first is that Christ has done the planting of these trees. He has determined where and when the trees will abide. He has placed us where we are and made us what we are. Our planting and our prosperity, in every way are due to the plan and planting of God. Another thought in relation to these trees is the variety which they evidence. Christ is full of imagination and creativity. These trees are quite different. So it is with His people. Christ has endowed us with different gifts, in order that we might accomplish different things for His glory. Not only will we present differently, but also we will accomplish those things in different places. The habitat of the palm is not the same as that of the cedar. So Christ has set us in different locations in order that we might flourish in that place, according to His Good Pleasure. Regardless of where He has planted us, we are still ‘in the courts of our God.’ Besides that, because He has planted us, tends us, nourishes us, prunes us, and delights in us, we cannot fail to ‘flourish.’ If you feel today, Saint of God, as if you are not yet where you want to be, or yet what you want to be, look at these trees of the Lord’s planting. What He does for them, He will do for you.

Gracious Savior,
plant us in Your house forever,
and cause us to flourish for Your Glory.
We give you all the praise and honor.

Where the Bush is Burning
Tomm Tice