Planted by Water

Back to trees! Reading in Isaiah about oaks:

‘They [God’s restored people] will be called oaks of righteousness, a  planting of the Lord for the display of his splendour.’  (Isaiah 61:3)

My earlier comments on the spiritual life and trees have emphasised the importance of roots, and of drawing from the waters of the Spirit. About the inward life, if you like. Vitally important, as the roots determine the fruits.

But the ultimate purpose is for us trees to grow strong, healthy and fruitful so that we might be for the display of God’s splendour. So that we might display God’s glory to the world - showing the world what God is like and what he always intended the people he created to be like. What an awesome calling! And the world is waiting for such sons of God to be revealed!

This 61st chapter of Isaiah is fantastic. Jesus came with the anointing of the Spirit to sort people like you and me out, to replace our ashes with crowns of beauty and our mourning with gladness so that we could display his glory. His grace (in us) revealing his glory! (What a tragedy, therefore, that so many of God’s people are still locked up in these things!!)

Now as oaks of righteousness we are not just to stand there looking beautiful, but to ‘rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated;’ in other words, to get on with the restoring and building of God’s church so that we may produce spiritual offspring and receive an inheritance of many people coming to know Jesus and growing strong in him. What an inheritance - better than your grandma’s ornaments or the family silver! Along the way, we will ‘feed on the wealth of the nations,’ people will see how blessed we are, we’ll be filled with everlasting joy and more besides (read the chapter your self and  be blessed!). Ultimately it will lead to a great testimony before the world as God will ‘make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.’

This is what getting our roots down deep and being planted by water ultimately results in. A beautiful glorified church, the bride for the bridegroom, and the knowledge of God’s glory covering the earth!! (Praise God! Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus! - excuse me while I just dance around the room a bit!) This must surely be the greatest motivation for us to get our roots down deep and to keep drawing from the Word and the Spirit. We can and will change this world!