Scripture:
Jeremiah 17:7-10 NKJV
[7] “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. [8] For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. [9] “The heart is deceitful above all things And desperately wicked; Who can know it? [10] I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
Observation:
Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet. His heart was for GOD’S chosen people. Day after day and year after year he would pass on the words that he was instructed to say even when it seemed like he was getting through to no one. He never really stopped. Sometimes read what he has to say, and wonder how he just kept on even when it seemed like no one cared. I’m sure at times it felt like no one cared about anything he had to say. But then I come across scriptures like this and I see how he just pressed through no matter what. You see Jeremiah knew where his help came from. He had planted himself right next to the life-giving source. His roots ran deep into the ground that is GOD and he was fed every day by the creator of heaven and earth. That’s how he continued day in and day out. He was getting what he needed without question. Even when it seemed like the storm was raging and the wind was blowing Jeremiah’s roots were in the LORD not in what he was saying or whether or not people were receiving it. To him that honestly didn’t matter. He was saying it because he knew where it came from. This honestly makes me think about John 15:4-8. Staying close to the source… planted right next to Jesus. Abiding in HIM, not the praise of man. If you know about Jeremiah and his ministry. A lot of the Jewish people couldn’t stand him. They didn’t want to hear what he had to say because… they didn’t want to change. They wanted to do things their way. To the point that they wanted him to just go away…. but he didn’t and he wouldn’t he stayed connected to the LORD and kept saying what he was told to, and for that reason alone he was blessed. When persecution came he was not affected. Verses 9 and 10 are eye-openers. When the bible talks about the heart it’s referring to emotions. I’m sure that there were times when Jeremiah wondered why he continued to speak and why he couldn’t just sit down and rest. I’m sure there were times when his emotions were high and he thought. This isn’t working no one is listening. I’m getting nowhere. He knew he could not allow his emotions to shut him down. GOD was using him and fruit would come. The timing was not up to him. He just had to remain faithful and do what the Spirit of the LORD told him.
Application:
Have you ever painted a fruit tree? I was in a foster home when I was a kid and it was by a creek in Dallas Oregon. The trees that we planted closest to the creek grew faster and stayed stronger. The funny thing is I was in that foster home for 2 years and I never saw the trees produce fruit. Even though I was very anxious to see an apple or a grapefruit I never got to however I’m sure if I went back today and looked they would be full of fruit in its season. They were planted right by what they needed to do what they were intended to do. I want us to just think about that. Because I see this a lot In my own life. Sowing the word into others gets strenuous and honestly, you may never see the results. That’s why it’s so important that you stay connected to the LORD. The results are up to him and you can’t be swayed back and forth by what it looks like. Let me ask you a question. Do you trust that HE Cas called you? If the answer to that question is yes. Then you need to stay right next to the life-giving source. Right next to the living water. In due season fruit will come. That part is not for us to decide. We just need to do what HE says and HE will bring the increase. Just being honest here… sometimes I get discouraged. Sometimes I let my heart speak craziness to me. You’re not doing anything, Eric. There’s absolutely no impact from what you do. No one even reads these things… and honestly, do you think anyone cares what you have to say about how the bible affected your life? NO. They don’t. I know how important it is to stay close to the water and the nutrients I need. If I allowed my heart to determine my course I would have given up a long time ago. My point to all this is to encourage you. Don’t give up. Plant yourself right next to GOD. Yield yourself to HIS Holy Spirit. In due season fruit will come. Don’t listen to your emotions they are temporary GOD is eternal and HE is for you. Listen to HIS word and allow HIM to bring the rain in its season and the sun in its season. Stay planted next to HIM and when the sun and heat come you will grow not wither away. The heat will activate the nutrients you are given by the living water. Listen GOD wants to bless you. In due season HE will if you truly trust HIM. What I know is HE sure has blessed me.
Prayer:
Father, we love you. We are so grateful that we are planted right next to you and will always have what we need. Even when the rest of the world is struggling you are the source we run to. Thank you. We also want to thank you for showing us how to make our decisions in life. Your word tells us that our hearts are not to be our guide. That they will lead us in the wrong direction. The one thing we do know is that we have gone in the wrong direction long enough. Help us to stay tucked up next to you. Help us to be right in the fold of your wing, right next to the water. Where we can’t be misled by how we feel. We want our lives to be guided by your word, not our feelings. Allow us to see your provision in all times. You are the reason we breath. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.