“Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.” Ps. 92:13
Everything we do, every word we say, every thought, every attitude and opinion, in fact, our whole life and our accomplishments reflect our environment. Our beliefs are produced and shaped by the environment in which we are planted. If we are planted in the house of God, we will flourish in His courts! THAT – is an amazing promise!
The word planted above comes from the Hebrew word shathal, which means to transplant. This is important to know because that’s what actually happened to us when we were born again. Colossians 1:13 tells us that we have been “delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of His dear Son!”
The kingdom of God is what Jesus preached and taught. Romans 14:17 tells us that “The kingdom of God is… Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost!” When you know you have a Savior who purchased a gift for you, called Righteousness, it fills you with Joy! That’s the gift that gives you acceptance with God! When you know you’re going to heaven when you leave this life, it fills you with Peace! That peace is the shalom peace of God that the world is really looking for, but can never obtain apart from the God of Peace. When you walk in the teaching and counsel of the Spirit of God, you will walk in His Joy! That is living in the kingdom of God, and that is flourishing!
Let me ask you, where are YOU planted? Have you examined your environment? Toxic soil produces toxic fruit, but if we are planted in God’s house, in the life of God, we will flourish in HIS courts, the courts of His life, in His ways and in His system. But, if we are planted in the WORLD’S SYSTEM we will flourish in the world, where the god of this world can deceive us. Jesus said, he (the devil) comes “…to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” (John 10:10) Jesus asked, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)
WHERE we spend eternity, and HOW we spend eternity depends a great deal on the environment we allow to influence us. The kingdom of God is a gift of provision and the promise of eternal life. The world’s system is a system that takes everything from us and promises nothing more than the hopelessness of death as our final destination. Moses counseled his people in Deuteronomy 30:19 to “…choose life that you and your children may live!”
With Love,
Pastor Tom