Choose Wisely. Choose Blessing.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 17

Scripture Focus: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.  He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17.7-8)

Devotional Thought: Jeremiah 17 has a lot of strong words for us to heed.  It is full of negative actions and negative consequences.  But, it also regales us with the positive.  Today, let’s focus on the positives found in vv 7-8.

Verse 7.  We take action by trusting. The Lord is the object of our action, our trust, sufficient for all our wants and needs.  What a blessing!

Verse 8a.  We have been purposely planted.  By whom?  By God.  Where?  By water.  Why?  So we can flourish.  Why do we send out roots?  We recognize that we need the (living) water.  But, it’s our choice!  See the bad choice analogy in Jeremiah 17.5-6 and the parable of the bad choice made by the plant in Ezekiel 17.

Verse 8b and 8c.  There is no fear of heat because our leaves remain green.  There is no anxiety over drought because we continue to bear fruit.  That is, God provides before our need.  He has seen us through before, and we know he will see us through again and again.  The green leaves and the fruit remind us that we don’t have to worry or fret.  This is like the colorful reminder of God’s promise when we see a rainbow in the sky. 

God has blessed us with free will to make good or bad choices.  He has provided evidence through the centuries of blessings and curses resulting from our choices.  Choose wisely!

John Wade

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for sending us reminders every day of who you are and what you do for us based on how we choose to follow you.  May we be strongly rooted, alive, and continually fruitful in you.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 108.1-6

1 My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being!

2 Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!

3 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.

4 For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!

6 That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer me!