T.G.I.M. / Flourish Where You're Planted

Good morning friends. I don't have a bunch of time this Monday - the Farmer and I had a busy, wonderful weekend traveling and celebrating our youngest granddaughter's first birthday, and we've both been dealing with some cardio health issues and my dad is also still slowly recovering from a relentless leg infection - it's been a crazy time, but so good in Christ. Thank you all for your prayers.

What is on my heart to share this morning is that you've heard the popular saying, "Bloom where you are planted?" I like "flourish" where you are planted. Look at Psalm 1 - and by the way, the placement of each Psalm in the Bible's song book, is not haphazard or nilly-willy. 

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."

Notice that it says the righteous are "planted."

In Christ, we are counted as "righteous" - not because we obeyed the law, but because Christ has obeyed the entire law for us, as we were incapable, dead in our trespasses and sin. And Christ's righteousness has been imputed to us, as if we obeyed it ourselves and has brought us from death to life. That's the Gospel of Jesus Christ, repenting of our sins and trusting in the finished work of Jesus on our behalf. 

Salvation is of the Lord. Faith is a gift. It is entirely completed by Christ from start to finish, not a work of man so no one may boast. 

And we are "planted" by streams of water. 

In Christ, we are not these wild shoots just sprouting up any old place. No, we are carefully planted in rich soil that's been prepared for us. Our location was not chosen nilly-willy. We are by streams of water, cared for and provided for by the Vinedresser. We have all that we need each day, grace upon grace. It is always enough. 

And in this cultivated, deliberate position of Christ righteousness, we can flourish in our surroundings, meaning our leaves are green, not crinkled up and curly, but spiritually healthy, bearing ripe, seasonal fruit.  

Isn't that so good? Forgive me for not taking the time to list all of the proof texts, but I promise I'll go back and fill in the blanks with God's rich goodness. 

Flourish where you are planted this week. It may not look like what you think it should, but in Christ, nothing is random. Jesus gave everything to put these little sprouts back in the hands of the Vinedresser. 

You were carefully planted. 

So go flourish for Christ right where you are.