A meditation from God's Message through Jeremiah (17:5-8, MSG)
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.
"Cursed." Is there any stronger way to say it? It's not just a question of things not working out quite right. There is no condition on what is cursed. Everything we do is, if we're depending on ourselves or other people to make it happen. "...out of touch with the good earth." You say you want to be connected with the planet? In touch with nature?
And yet how often do we set God aside like a lead weight. When we do we become like sagebrush. We are rootless. We are aimlessly blown around by fear mongers and the panic of politicians and the media.
But...
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.
"Blessed...trusts me, God..." Trust in God yields blessings - freshness, protection from droughts, fruitfulness. Not even one leaf drops.
Isn't it interesting that we're not just growing haphazardly - we are re-planted. It's a deliberate thing. An act of redemption.
Isn't it amazing that we're not just planted anywhere, but in Eden - the place God created for us to live before mankind sinned and brought death into the world. It's the place of God's perfect, intimate presence.
Isn't it encouraging that we're not planted near a stagnant lake but many rivers - multiple sources of strength, nourishment, and blessing that are constantly renewed.
There is no gray area here, Church. These two circumstances are polar opposites. We are either depending on ourselves and kicking God to the curb. Or we're depending totally on Him and trusting he will guide and direct us to accomplish his will. We are either tumbleweeds, unattached and blowing in the desert, or trees planted by rivers.
If your desire is to be connected to the planet, be connected to God first and foremost.
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