Are You a Mouthpiece for Satan?

Are You a Mouthpiece for Satan?

by | Mar 24, 2017 | Blog

 

Are You a Mouthpiece for Satan?

David Lindell

Mar 24, 2017
9 mins | Christian Living

I tend not to think of myself as a mouthpiece for Satan; in fact, I prefer to see myself in the opposite light. This is why a passage tucked near the end of the New Testament is so troubling for me. The third chapter of James deals explicitly with our words. While we expect the Bible to have something to say about what comes out of our mouths, the forcefulness of James’ imagery is jolting.

Our words possess great power

With dynamic metaphors, the author reveals the might our words possess. His first two images — a bit in a horse’s mouth and the rudder on a massive ship — allude to the tongue’s exacting control over a person, which can dramatically influence the direction of their life.

While these images are decidedly neutral, the writer’s third image is unquestionably negative. “How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!” he exclaims. Just like a forest fire, the tongue can burn up a life as its words spread rapidly, leaving little hope of reversing or containing the devastation that follows in their wake.

Just like a forest fire, the tongue can burn up a life as its words spread rapidly, leaving little hope of reversing or containing the devastation that follows in their wake.

In verse six, James takes it a step further to say that the tongue is a fire. There is real-world destruction in its words, and its ruin is easy to see. We glimpse it in the pained laugh of someone made the butt of a snarky joke, in the embarrassment of a child publicly berated by a parent, in the flushed face of a woman whose inadequacies are routinely paraded by her spouse — each scenario smells eerily of smoke.

James goes on to say that with these words we become the mouthpiece of hell because the tongue’s fire is fueled by hell itself.

Careless words are fueled by hell

Our hellish words “[stain] the whole body.” They penetrate deeply, resembling the “sword thrusts” described in Proverbs 12. The internal damage they inflict twinges unexpressed long after the conversation ends, setting aflame “the entire course of life.”

The words we say assume a life of their own.

James borrowed this phrase from first-century pagan religious language; it refers to the unending cycle of reincarnation. The inference is that the words we say assume a life of their own. They keep coming back to burn up what had almost healed.

What James says next is devastating. If the tongue is a fire, it is a fire you cannot prevent: “No human being can tame the tongue.”

No human being can tame the tongue

So what do we do? What can we do? The early Church Father Augustine offered hope when he wrote in his book On Nature and Grace, “[James] does not say that no one can tame the tongue, but no one of men; so that when it is tamed we confess that this is brought about by the pity, the help, the grace of God.” It isn’t a matter of mustering up enough self-discipline — watching our language or shutting our mouths, as we’ve all likely been admonished to do. Taming the tongue can only be done by the enabling grace of God.

Taming the tongue can only be done by the enabling grace of God.

James continues: “With [our tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it, we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.”  That last phrase calls to mind some of the very first words of Scripture, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). This connection to creation shows this passage is about more than the tongue — it’s about our identity.

Words ground our identity

What we say and what others say about us — whether positive or negative — shapes who we are and how we see ourselves. We can’t divorce ourselves from what comes out of our mouths. Jesus articulates this reality, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person… what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart.” (Matthew 15:11; 18a). This is why words are not just about the tongue: they are directly connected to who we are — to our identity — and they are intimately connected to the core of our being.

What we say and what others say about us — whether positive or negative — shapes who we are and how we see ourselves.

In other words, we can wash our mouths out with soap all we want, but it won’t transform our hearts. James 3:11-12 reinforces this point:

Does a fresh water spring produce salty and fresh water? No.
Do olives grow on a fig tree? No.
Do figs grow on a grapevine? No.

Why? Because producing those things is contrary to their identity.

The more clearly you grasp your identity in Christ, the more clearly you will see the destructive power of the tongue diminished as your words begin to align with your true self. And the more you come to see every person around you as a person created in the image of God, the harder and harder it will be to use your words to destroy what God has made.

*This blog post was originally written for Christianity Today.

Suggested Reads

Get the latest from the James River Blog in your inbox

Subscribe For Emails

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.





















Where is God When You are Suffering?

Where is God When You are Suffering?

by | Mar 6, 2017 | Uncategorized

 

Where is God When You are Suffering?

Josh Longanecker

Mar 6, 2017
7 mins | Christian Living

I sat quietly in the hospital room, somewhat shell-shocked. I didn’t know what to say or do. The family was all there, weeping as the mother and father held their infant son in their arms, still cradling him an hour after he passed into eternity.

The sense of loss was staggering. No one was saying much as we all sat and cried pondering what had just happened. The mother cradled her baby boy with tears running down her face, while their church and family gathered around them.

Pain will either cripple us or strengthen us.

In those moments, comforting words are difficult to voice. A loss like this will cut a wound into the hearts of the family which may never fully heal in this life. The intensity of the moment may fade, but there are certain kinds of pain that never fully fade away.

The reality is that pain will either cripple us or strengthen us. It’s true that suffering changes us, but how we allow it to change us will ultimately depend on the foundation on which we’ve built our lives.

Suffering is inevitable, but is it meaningless?

As we go through life, we will experience suffering, some greater than others. At times, suffering is physical pain caused by an injury or disability, other times its emotional or mental anguish. Suffering could be the result of the loss of a relationship, or an uncontrollable economic hardship which has brought us to our knees.

It could be abuse, or death of a close friend, or a host of other issues. The point is that we will all suffer to some extent, but the question often boils down to, why? And is there any meaning is suffering? Well, the answer to that questions comes down to who you ask.

A secular worldview of suffering acknowledges its existence while denying it any meaning

Secular psychologists and philosophers have tried to answer this question for years, but they have little hope to offer people. Our western society often views pain and suffering the same way they view the world; a random result of chance without meaning or design. In the secular worldview, our highest goal is self-fulfillment and pleasure, and suffering is merely an interruption to our pursuit of happiness.

In fact, noted philosopher & evolutionary scientist Dr. Richard Dawkins wrote in his book, Rivers Out of Eden, “In a universe of blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt, other people are going to get lucky, and you won’t find any rhyme or reason in it, nor any justice” (pp.132-133).

Cultural anthropologist Dr. Richard Shweder put it this way, “Suffering has no intelligible relation to any plot, except as a chaotic interruption” (Why Do Men Barbecue? P.125). In short, suffering just happens and there is no purpose in it and no reason for it.

A biblical worldview of suffering acknowledges its existence while promising a greater meaning

In the biblical worldview, suffering is not a “chaotic interruption” to our pursuit of happiness, but it is often through the fire of suffering that we find purpose.

Jesus, the very Son of God, suffered intensely on this earth. When you consider the physical torture (crucifixion was one of the most painful ways to die), emotional pain (betrayed and deserted by his closest friends), and spiritual anguish (bearing the sins of the world) Jesus endured, one could argue that He suffered more than anyone in history ever has or ever will.

Through times of pain and suffering, we are changed into who God wants us to be.

It was through this suffering that His ultimate purpose for coming to earth was fulfilled. Through His sacrifice on the cross, we have been offered peace and salvation. It was not in spite of His suffering, but because of it, His destiny was fulfilled.  

In the same way, through times of pain and suffering, we are changed into who God wants us to be. I am not saying that God is the ultimate cause of all suffering on earth, I am simply saying that because of God, there is purpose and meaning to the difficulties we face in life.

If we try and make sense of our suffering in the moment, our suffering will not make sense.

A few years ago, my wife and I were starting a church in St. Louis, and things were tight. I am not talking tight as in we cut our Starbucks down to one caramel latte a week; I mean tight as in wearing our winter coats inside our apartment because we could not afford to turn up the heat.

The church was not growing as quickly as we had hoped, so I was working full-time for an agency which helped homeless people in the city, then pastoring in the nighttime hours and on the weekends. Our car had broken down, so I had to borrow a bike from a friend to ride the 8 miles through some pretty rough neighborhoods to get into my office.

One morning on my way into work a huge truck came barreling down the crowded city street and didn’t see me on the shoulder. I swerved over at the last second, narrowly avoiding being crushed by the truck, only to hit a parked car at full speed.

I flipped over the car, destroying the borrowed bike, parts of the car, and much of my exposed skin in the process. I didn’t sustain any lasting injuries other than a few scars, but the emotional cost of that incident is something I will never forget. I remember standing on the street, blood pouring out of my wounds, as I looked up to heaven and yelled at God, “Do you have any idea what you are doing?!” As I looked at our situation, I could make no sense of our suffering and certainly couldn’t see how God was using it for any greater good.

When we fail to trust God in our suffering, we will blame Him instead of praising Him

At that moment, I was in pain, and I was frustrated.  I was not thinking about all that God had done to that point or all that He had promised to do. All I knew was that life was bad, and it had just gotten worse.

Had I been thinking clearly, maybe I would have been able to see that despite my pain, God was at work. But suffering does that to us; it poisons our judgment and corrupts our feeling. It dements our perspective so that we cannot see clearly.

When we fail to trust God in our suffering, we will find ourselves blaming Him for it instead of worshiping Him through it.

Soon after the accident, we would be given a vehicle, our bills would be paid, and we would end up feeling the overwhelming love of Christ through our church. God was using the very pain I was resenting to prove His faithfulness and shape me into the man He was calling me to be.

Whether or not we can see it, our suffering has a purpose. The reality is that when we fail to trust God in our suffering, we will find ourselves blaming Him for it instead of worshiping Him through it.

When pain blinds us to the spiritual realities of suffering, God’s Word & His people help us see the truth

To find perspective and strength in the midst of suffering, we must turn to the Church and the Scriptures. The church is the one place on earth that is designed and equipped to help us gain perspective, and the Bible is the one book in which we can find purpose in the midst of sorrow. It is the community of Christ which helps us to see what the pain of our situation has blinded us to. It is the word of God which helps us stand when we cannot, to move forward when our will is broken.

For the believer, suffering ends not in defeat, but in victory!

Do you want to know where God is when you are suffering? The Bible answers that questions for us: “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?…No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (Romans 8:35, 37).

When we are suffering, God is right beside us. Nothing can separate us from His love. He wants to show us His love through His church, and give us a purpose through His Word!

Suggested Reads

Get the latest from the James River Blog in your inbox

Subscribe For Emails

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.





















Are you in control of your life?

Are you in control of your life?

by | Feb 24, 2017 | Blog

 

Are you in control of your life?

James River Church

Feb 24, 2017
4 mins | Christian Living

There’s a test that has been done on kids since the 60’s that measures their ability to have self-control. You may have heard of this test before, or have seen the video, where a team of psychologists give kids a marshmallow and tell them that if they can refrain from eating it until the psychologists return, they will give them a second marshmallow. Some children pass the test; however, most kids eat it or at least take a couple of bites, but why? Why would they choose to eat one marshmallow now when they can have two later?

New studies on self-control

A new study by Alexander Soutschek at the University of Zurich suggests that self-control is influenced by your right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ). This is the area of your brain that has long been linked to empathy and selflessness. But Soutschek, by using magnetic fields to shut down the rTPJ, has shown that it’s also involved in self-control.

Self-control is present you taking a hit to help out future you.

Ed Yong in his article, “Self-Control Is Just Empathy With Your Future Self” unpacks Soutschek’s study:

“Empathy depends on your ability to overcome your perspective, appreciate someone else’s, and step into their shoes. Self-control is essentially the same skill, except that those other shoes belong to your future self—a removed and hypothetical entity who might as well be a different person. So think of self-control as a kind of temporal selflessness. It’s Present You taking a hit to help out Future You.”

The reason the children chose to eat the marshmallow in the marshmallow test, is because they could not see the benefit that their future self would enjoy if they only waited. Their desire for instant gratification cost them in the end.

This, however, is not only a problem for children. We see this today in multiple areas, including credit card debt. Experian, one of the three main credit bureaus, reports that the typical consumer in America has an average of 2.35 credit cards as of 2016. (Note: These are only bank credit cards and do not include retail credit cards.) And with those cards, Experian found that the average balance on bank cards in America in 2016 is $5,551.

How do we have self-control in areas of our lives where it doesn’t come easy?

There are certain things that come easily to us when it comes to self-control. For example, I have no problem with abstaining from eating exorbitant amounts of brussel sprouts; however, there are other things that take more self-control or can’t be accomplished by my efforts alone. My ability to have self-control in these things does not come from my will power. It is a gift.

Jesus, as He is explaining to His disciples that He is leaving soon, tells them not to be troubled. He says that they will not be alone because He will ask God the Father to send them a Helper: the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will dwell with them and be with them forever. This promise is for all of Jesus’ disciples. Every Christian can know that the Spirit is with us, and as the Spirit is with us, He produces things in us.

Much like a tree produces fruit, the Spirit produces fruit in us. One of this fruit is self-control. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace . . . self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23).

If you do not destroy the things that hinder the Spirit’s work, they will ultimately destroy the Spirit’s work in you.

Puritan pastor John Owen in his book, Overcoming Sin and Temptation speaks to the necessity of the Spirit’s help when it comes to self-control. Owen understood that a person might make it for a short time through their will power or ability, but if they want to walk in the kind of authority that gives them the capacity to control their desires and passions, whether good or bad, they must have the power of the Spirit working through them.

He goes on through his discourse to deliver his famous line, “be killing sin or sin will be killing you.” Essentially what Owen is saying here, is that your spiritual vitality is at stake, and if you do not destroy the things that hinder the Spirit’s work, they will ultimately destroy the Spirit’s work in you.

If there is no power of the Spirit to give you self-control over your life, how can you overcome the eating disorder, lust, greed, anxiety, or whatever else you may deal with? The answer: you can’t; at least not long term. Whatever sin, hurt, or suffering you are dealing with cannot be overcome on your own. You need the power of God.

This is why the Apostle Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:6-7,

“I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

We must understand that like all other gifts of the Spirit; we grow in them through practice and repetition. We grow in self-control by doing things that fan the flame of the Spirit’s work in us.

How do we fan the flame of the Spirit’s work in us?

1. Pray and spend time in God’s Word.

Schedule a time where you can get away. Go to a place where you can be distraction free, separate yourself from your phone, and give yourself to reading large portions of Scripture and calling on God.

As you read through Scripture and pray, it reminds you of the grace you have received through Jesus, and it cultivates a greater desire for God. This is what the Word of God is for. God didn’t give us His Word for mere information. He gave us His Word for transformation.

God didn’t give us His Word for mere information. He gave us His Word for transformation.

2. Be in Church!

Puritan pastor David Clarkson said: “[Corporate] worship is the nearest resemblance of Heaven that earth knows.” Now eternity will not be just an unending church service, but we will be consumed in a joyous, celebratory multitude of fellow worshipers.

There is something uniquely powerful about being with our church family that allows us to experience a brief glance of eternity and fans the flame of the Spirit in our lives.

Donald Whitney in his book, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life says, “Christians are called to make themselves, by the Spirit’s power, do what they would not naturally do…in order to experience what the Spirit gives them a desire to be, that is, to be with Christ and like Christ. ‘Discipline yourself,’ says the Scripture, ‘for the purpose of godliness’ (NASB).”

Self-control is not a do it yourself project. You cannot do it on your own. You need God’s help, and the great thing is He wants to help you. He has promised to help you.

Suggested Reads

Get the latest from the James River Blog in your inbox

Subscribe For Emails

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.





















Why You Need Community

Why You Need Community

by | Jan 27, 2017 | Blog

 

Why You Need Community

Tom Mathew

Jan 27, 2017
6 mins | Christian Living, Culture

I still remember how I felt on my way to my first Life Group meeting. My wife Blessin and I were invited by a new friend to visit their Life Group. Essentially, we were going to a person’s house whom we’d never met, to hang out for two hours with 14 people we knew nothing about. I remember thinking to myself, “what on earth have we gotten ourselves into?”

I was scared to step out, scared to do something I had NEVER done before, but little did we know, this Life Group is exactly what we needed as a newly married couple putting down roots.

On the surface, some in the group had similar likes and interests as we did, while others clearly did not. However, all of us quickly learned that God had brought every individual in the group together to share differing perspectives, stretch our thinking and encourage each other in our walk with the Lord.

You Are Designed for Community

The reality is you and I are designed for community.  We are created to have relationship with others and steer clear of living in isolation.

Research shows that “Individuals who lack social connections or report frequent feelings of loneliness tend to suffer higher rates of morbidity and mortality, as well as infection, depression, and cognitive decline.”

Social isolation increased people’s likelihood of death by 26 percent, even when people didn’t consider themselves lonely.

According to the BBC, “Chronically lonely people have higher blood pressure, are more vulnerable to infection, and are also more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Loneliness also interferes with a whole range of everyday functioning, such as sleep patterns, attention and logical and verbal reasoning.”

Additionally, “social isolation increased people’s likelihood of death by 26 percent, even when people didn’t consider themselves lonely.”

Some would argue that in 2017, social isolation really isn’t a problem. After all, we can have hundreds of friends/followers on different social media outlets, and within mere seconds connect with people on the other side of the world, yet most of us know very little, if anything, about our neighbors next door.

We see selective snapshots of people’s lives on Facebook and feel like we are keeping up with our friends. However, we are not truly connecting with others; we are just processing information.

Information without an emotional connection leads to a false sense of community. This façade of connection does not fulfill the need for personal relationship that God has planted in every one of us, and this leaves us in a worse spot than before. At least before social media, social isolation was easier to detect. In today’s culture, we can be in social isolation without recognizing it.

The Benefit of Community

The writer of Hebrews had this plea for us in Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.”

This writer understood thousands of years ago, what is still true today, relationships are integral for humanity to thrive. It serves as an avenue to give and receive encouragement.

It’s true, you can encourage someone through an email, DM (Twitter), PM (Facebook), etc., but those mediums limit you from seeing the entirety of a person’s journey. Communication is more than just words; it involves a whole spectrum of physical and emotional cues that you cannot get from simply reading a text.

Communication is more than just words; it involves a whole spectrum of physical and emotional cues that you cannot get from simply reading a text.

Meeting face to face is a critical component for authentic community.  Although there is a host of benefits community provides, there are two that are invaluable.

First, meeting regularly with others shows us there is more going on in the world than meets the eye.  In other words, being alone lends itself to tunnel vision where all you see is your pressing situation in a given moment.  Meeting with others allows us to share in their challenges, defeats, joys, and victories, which opens our eyes to a world much bigger than what we can experience on our own.

Secondly, authentic community helps us recognize we are not alone.  Others have experienced similar situations to what we might be going through and in turn, can help encourage and guide us through challenging times. We also have valuable experiences which we can use to help others during difficult seasons.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:4, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

We must be connected with others because it creates a tremendous impact not only on our lives but in the lives of others.

Two Ways to Build Healthy, Godly Relationships:

1. Join A LIFE GROUP, or whatever it is called at your church. Life Groups consists of 12-14 people in the same stage of life who meet regularly to encourage and build each other up in their walk with the Lord.

You might be wondering, what do these Life Groups do when they get together? It typically involves a time of hanging out and catching up, followed by discussing the latest sermon and prayer. Often times groups even get together and strengthen relationships through fun activities.

If you live in the Springfield Missouri area or are interested in seeing how we do Life Groups, we’ve made It easy to get connected and have listed all the available groups along with information about the leaders here.

2. VOLUNTEER! Volunteering in a ministry area opens the door for you to build relationships. Think about it, when you are working side by side with others to achieve a certain goal, it’s going to bring you closer together. So where do you start?

Talk with your church leaders to find out. At James River Church, your first step is to take the Connection Class. This class will cover all the different areas you can serve at the church and help you to discover where your abilities will fit in best with the ministry! The Bible says “In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well” (Romans 12:6a).

You have gifts that God wants to use to build His kingdom, and you will find you are most fulfilled when you are using your talents and abilities to serve the Lord by serving others. Plus, you will meet some pretty great people along the way! To sign up for the Connection Class, or to see more on the volunteer ministry at James River Church, click here.

An African proverb puts it this way: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Are you engaged in community?

Suggested Reads

Get the latest from the James River Blog in your inbox

Subscribe For Emails

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.





















Planted in the House

Planted in the House

by | Jan 18, 2017 | Uncategorized

 

Planted in the House

Savannah Gibson

Jan 18, 2017
9 mins | Christian Living

My grandparents’ backyard is beautiful. It’s like a little secret garden. In spring and summer when I gaze out of the kitchen window, my eyes are mesmerized by the vibrant colors of all the flowers and plants. From the fragrant petunias to bright yellow marigolds to the constant blooming rose bushes, all are perfectly and strategically placed around the yard. Then towering above them all, are two strong, flourishing trees that provide shade. The humble beginning of one of the trees intrigues me. Let me tell you why.

One day, my grandmother was shopping for another flowering plant to add to her incredible collection. After finding the perfect option, she made her way to the checkout counter and noticed there was something else sprouting up from the pot. Not only was she purchasing a new plant, but she was also getting a tree. A tiny little tree.

My grandmother immediately planted the seemingly forgotten twig of a tree in her backyard. After 17 years of tender loving care, that same twig has turned into a towering 40-foot tree.

The health and growth of that tree was no accident. The tree survived and grew because it was planted. My grandmother saw the potential of that small little tree and decided to plant it by faith. What most people may have viewed as a waste of time, she considered a worthwhile investment. If ignored, that tree would have never reached its full potential or lived out its purpose. Ultimately, that tree would have died.

It is essential that as believers, we are planted in a place that will feed and nurture our soul.

Similar to the tree needing fertile soil to survive and grow, it is essential that as believers, we are planted in a place that will feed and nurture our soul. The question then is, where do we find fertile soil?

The Psalmist writes in Psalm 92:12-13,

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God” (ESV).

The psalmist compares those who are planted in the house of God to a strong and vibrant tree.

The reality is that we are only as strong as where we are planted.

We need to be planted where we will be fed

When we are planted in the house of God, it’s like a tree being planted in the best possible place and the most fertile soil.

Psalm 1:2-3 says,

“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank…” (ESV)

Water is essential to the vitality of a tree. Trees must have water to create carbohydrates which become the energy source for the tree. If plants and trees lack enough water, they become weak and struggle to survive.

On the other hand, if a plant is positioned near a stream, it will have a continuous supply of water and therefore become stronger and more vibrant.

The same is true when we are planted in the house of God. Because God’s house provides a place where we are constantly being filled, and where our faith is consistently being watered by the Word of God and His presence.

We are only as strong as where we are planted.

The Word of God is our source of strength as a believer. It is our spiritual food that strengthens us as we hear and feed on it.

Jesus describes the importance of the Word of God for the believer in Matthew 4:4:

“People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (ESV).

Like water to a tree, the Word of God provides life to every believer. It is not an option – it is a necessity.

We need to be planted where we can discover our purpose for living

Psalm 1:3 says,

“They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season” (ESV).

There are various types of fruit bearing trees: apples, peaches, cherry, coconut and mango’s to name a few. Each tree bears its own unique type of fruit. Why do these type of trees exist? They exist for the purpose of producing fruit. The same is true for you and me.
Like trees, you and I have a specific purpose, and God has equipped us with special gifts and talents to fulfill the calling He has on each of our lives. The way we discover our purpose and develop our gifts is by being with the Lord and around his people. In fact, bearing good fruit is impossible any other way.

I was recently having coffee with a girl from church, and she was sharing how her life has changed since she, and her husband, decided to plant themselves within the church. Two years ago they started attending the church and immediately jumped in and got involved. Since then, they have both discovered gifts and passions that they didn’t know they had. They serve on the production team and love it!

We need to be planted where we can stand strong against the storms of life

Most trees loose their leaves in winter. Bitter cold weather is not conducive to growth. However, that is not how it is for those who are planted in God’s house.

Psalms 1:3b teaches us:

“They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither” (ESV).

Meaning there is never a time where we will be overtaken by the storms and trials of life if we are anchored in God. Although we may face different seasons and withstand different trails if we are planted in God’s house, those trials and tests will only make us stronger.

Romans 8:37 says, “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (ESV).

When we are planted in the house of God, we are choosing to position ourselves in a safe, protected place that is strong and stable in times of the stormy trials that can come our way.

When we are planted in the house of God, we are choosing to position ourselves in a safe, protected place that is strong and stable in times of the stormy trials that can come our way.

We need to be planted where we can be prosperous

Psalm 1:3c says,

“They are like trees planted along the riverbank bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do” (ESV).

Wow! What a statement, “they prosper in all they do.” God desires that our lives would overflow with His blessings so that whatever we do, we would be prosperous. And that is exactly what happens for those who plant themselves in His house, and who make His Church a priority. His desire is that we would experience the blessing of the Lord on our lives in such a way that we would not be able to contain it.

He wants to bless your home
He wants to bless your friendships
He wants to bless your finances
He wants to bless your job

There is not one area of your life that God does not desire to bless.

Psalm 31:19 says,

“How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you” (ESV).

It’s God’s desire that you and I would be planted in His house so that we would become like my grandparent’s 40-foot tree. A flourishing, vibrant tree that never stops growing.

Suggested Reads

Get the latest from the James River Blog in your inbox

Subscribe For Emails

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.