Flourish

Good morning,

What does it mean to flourish?  When I think of this word I think of a plant.  There is a plant my "aunt and uncle" (long-time family friends) gave me about 3 years ago as a Christmas gift.  It is nearly impossible to kill.  I've come close several times.  When I care for it properly though, it flourishes.  I have another beautiful plant that needs an entirely different kind of care.  If I gave it the same treatment as the first plant the second would die.

God knows what each of his children needs.  Some needs are basic and common to all.  But, others are in proportion to the personality, soul and spirit of the individual.  Parents of multiple children know this.  Teachers know this.  No two children are alike.

God knows each of our needs and stands ready to meet them when we come to Him and ask.  His desire is that each of His righteous ones flourish as the cedars of Lebanon.  These ancient trees were tall, producing long boards of strong, beautiful, fragrant wood.  The trees were an abundant natural resource of Phonecia and Lebanon, giving those areas a valuable trade commodity.  Nearby countries did not have such grand trees.  The wood was prized for building ships, palaces, etc.  The cedars of Lebanon were the "king of trees".

The psalmist tells us in Psalm 92:12-15 what it means to truly flourish:

The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree,

He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Planted in the houes of the Lord they will flourish in the courts of our God.

They will still yield fruit in old age;

They shall be full of sap and very green, to declare that the Lord is upright;

He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

                                                                   NASB version

It is our God who causes us to flourish.  He plants us in righteousness by giving us the righteousness of His Son.  Then, He "grows us".  By being planted in the Lord's house we will flourish by still yielding spiritual fruit in our "golden years".  Even as mature "trees" we will still be full of sap.  What a joy to face the years ahead still declaring, "the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him!"

Thank you, Lord, for giving us Your righteousness.  We certainly cannot attain Your standard of perfection left to our own devices.  As receivers of that gift, please continue to "grow us up" in our faith so that spiritually we will flourish (be strong like the cedars of Lebanon), increasing in grace and truth even into our final days here.  In Jesus' name, amen.