In
my many years of bachelorhood, before I married my beautiful wife of almost 30
years, I did what most guys of my generation did to make the "bachelor
pad" look "cool"....I had lots and lots of plants. Unfortunately
at that time, I was a traveling salesman that usually left home on Monday
mornings, and if all went well was back home by late Friday afternoon. So, in
order to take care of my many plants, I
more than sufficiently watered them
and placed them in or near the windows so they could get their required sun. In
most cases, this was a recipe for disaster and dead plants. If a plant stayed
alive at my place for more than 2 weeks, it was a real survivor!
When
I look back at my survival rate with my plants, there was only one that did
well to live. In fact, you might say it was even able to thrive under the
extreme conditions I placed on my chlorophyll colored roommates. It was my schefflera
tree. It did not need that much water, so usually watering it once a week was
sufficient and as for sunlight, medium light that was bright but indirect was
the perfect amount...it truly lived in spite of my care.
As
I think of that plant, it reminds me of the way some of us go about our
Christian walk sometimes. We don't want
to be in the bright spotlight with a lot of attention coming our way because if
others are looking at us and our actions, we may wilt and lose our witness. We
are much more comfortable being near the bright light and getting the benefits
of the indirect light of others who have chosen to serve as a deacon or a
Sunday school teacher; or give their time and talents and sing in the choir; or
volunteer a few Sundays a year to take care of those little children in the
nursery. Yes, the bright light of service scares us, so we seek the dimmer
light further from the real battles that are being waged in the name of the
Lord.
And
as for the watering, ONCE A WEEK IS GOOD FOR US! Yes, we will be there just
about every Sunday morning for the church service. We will sit where we always
sit; shake hands with the same people each week; give the same $10 or $20 tip
to the collection plate and most of all, stay awake through the entire sermon.
If we do all this, we will survive and be good to go until the same time next
week when we repeat the process.
But
God has called us NOT to SURVIVE...BUT TO THRIVE. In Psalm 92:12-13, it reads,
"The
righteous thrive like a palm tree and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon.
Planted in the house of the Lord, they thrive in the courts of our God."
And
that should be each of us...living our life, walking with our Lord in committed
service so that we are not just survivors...but we are OVERCOMERS WHO THRIVE in
this world as we prepare for the one to come. We need to spend time DAILY in
His word, seeking His truth and pursuing His righteousness so that when the
spotlight is aimed in our direction, WE WILL NOT WILT BUT STAND AS A GLORIOUS
TESTIMONY OF GOD AND HIS FAITHFULNESS.
So
the choice is simple, my friend...are you only surviving in your journey
through this life or are you one of God's chosen elect who has decided that you
will THRIVE?
AS
ALWAYS, THE CHOICE IS YOURS!!!
Choosing
to Live a Life that Thrives in Him,
WPQ
Poem for the day:
If you decided
to follow Jesus
And to live a
life that thrives;
You must do the
work each day
That tells
others you're alive.
So keep your
heart from evil
In all you say
and do.
For the bright
light of this world
Will be shining
down on you.
To see if your
measure up
And really walk
the Walk.
Or are you just
giving lip service
When you try to
talk the Talk.
For the Father's
love will see you thru
Those dark
nights and days to come;
Until He comes
to take you to
YOUR EVERLASTING
HOME!
WPQ©February
2018
