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Photo by Laura Moody. Copyright 2015.
Deer head oak with ferns on its trunk - McClellanville, SC
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Every second of every minute of every hour of every day of every year we grow.
Praise the Lord!
Sometimes we grow smarter, sometimes we become more wise, but in my opinion, ultimately it is best to grow in understanding.
What do I mean by that you ask? Well, what I mean, is that if you have surrendered your life to Christ and understand that He is the Lord your God and has a unique plan for you, that my friend is understanding!
As time moves forward, humans increase in age. They learn life lessons as well as historical, grammatical, mathematical and scientific lessons. Jesus at the same time also coaches his children about himself. The magnificent journey is filled with revelation and discovery.
The Holy Bible, filled with the Word of God, is sometimes described as having an acronym B - I - B - L - E "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth". It is more than that though. The Bible describes the one true God. If you want to know Him better, read the Bible and pray a lot! Jesus wants a relationship with the people He created!
To reflect our creator well is a result of understanding and letting Him lead and love through you. In other words - surrender and shine. :) Others will recognize the Lord's reflection regularly, guaranteed! Many will share positive feedback with you and you will know that it is Jesus living through you. As sinners we regularly fall short, but as saved Christians we stand tall, recognizing our short comings but allowing our Lord's plan to unfold and thus leaning on Him for direction at every turn. May our Lord Jesus glorify Himself through His children. Seek Jesus our Lord daily, listening and watching and reading and praying. You will be blessed in unimaginable ways!
In the Holy Bible some verses compare plants to people. Also the analogy of the growth of plants is some times used to describe how people understand the Word of God. Isaiah 61 features a few I really enjoy. I highlighted them for your review.
The Year of the Lord’s Favor
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6 And you will be called priests of the Lord,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.
7 Instead of your shame
you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.
8 “For I, the Lord, love justice;
I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”
10 I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations.
Footnotes: Isaiah 61:1 Hebrew; Septuagint the blind
New International Version (NIV)
For commentary on the Isaiah 61 verses, click on the links below.
Every person's journey is about growth.
Our amazing Lord planned it that way! Hallelujah!
May our Lord Jesus shower you with much
grace, mercy and peace as you move forward with Him!