Be a Tree

So, Tyler and I went to visit his parents this weekend, who were staying in Gatlinburg at a campground with the RV. On the way up, we were talking about what it means to trust the Lord- seems that driving in the car is a good place for Tyler and I to learn about the Lord, it happens alot-("Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;" Proverbs 3:5) We talked about how we aren't to LEAN on what we understand, but in all things LEAN( or trust ) on/in God. The truth of this boiled down, is that we have to take SELF, totally out of the picture in order to lean on the Lord's understanding, rather than our own. Which brought the direction of our conversation completely back to the main point: IT's NOT ABOUT US, IT's ALL ABOUT GOD, and GIVING HIM GLORY, because HE IS GREAT!

Now, here's the part where the tree comes in... As we were in the mountains surrounded by trees, the question was brought up, "Ok, if EVERYTHING is created for God's glory, how does that tree bring God glory?" Hmmm.... Well, I believe that if someone were to be outside and looking at the world God created, saw this one tree, and suddenly realized how BIG, POWERFUL, STRONG, CREATIVE, etc. that God is, then, that one tree is bringing God Glory!

So, how does this apply to us? Be a tree. Your life should be one that brings God glory so much that if someone were to meet you, or even see you standing there (like a tree), that they would suddenly realize how BIG, POWERFUL, STRONG, CREATIVE, etc. that God is!

The best part about God is that he already knows the things we will discover, and the light bulbs that will come on in our brain as we learn things about Him. SO, in his word that he wrote to us, there are several examples of trees and how they are bringing God glory, and being replinished by Him, and so much more!

The first verse I thought of was:

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields fruit in season, whose leaf does not whither. Whatever he does prospers." Psalm 1:3

Ok, so as we are being trees to the world, showing people how great our God is just with our life, and our purpose on this earth, this verse gives us some instructions for how to keep our tree healthy and alive. We must be planted by streams of water. How do we do this? Once again, the word tells us!

Jesus said, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." John 7:37-38

We go to Jesus, to not only just be planted BY the streams of water, but for them to be flowing from within us! WOW, the Lord takes what we think is great, and makes it so much GREATER!

So seeking the Lord, reading his word, obeying him, these are the ways to have the living water, flow from within your life, keeping your tree healthy, and bearing fruit, for God to get the glory! And the end of Psalm 1:3, reminds us yet again, whatever this tree does PROSPERS. When we bring God Glory, we will succeed! (Funny how God reminds us of the same truths through something different!)

And to prove the point once again, God tells us in another spot, Psalm 104:16 "The trees of the Lord are well watered." Let's be a tree, a tree of the Lord. After all, we were created for the same purpose that a tree was created, not to bring ourself glory through how he created us, BUT to bring HIM GLORY! And we do this by letting the living water flow from within our lives!