“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Those who are planted in the house of the LORD Shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing,” -Psa 92:12-14
I was speaking to someone about Christian maturity the other day, and this person described spiritual maturity as merely knowing the scriptures, to which I responded that spiritual maturity isn't about knowing something alone as much as it is applying what you know. Jesus told the disciples "if you know these things, blessed are you if you do them" (Jn 13:17). Spiritual growth is found in the application of the word--in being doers of the word and not only hearers. When we are truly planted in Christ and His word then we will flourish in the Lord. Now there are religious people and even unbelievers doing a lot of works but that doesn't mean they are truly planted in Christ and the word (Mat 7:21-23) You see flourishing isn't about having big heads but big hearts, it's not about information but transformation!
As the psalmist tells us here if we are "planted in the house of the Lord" we "shall flourish", it is a guarantee--not a possibility but a reality. The believer that sits under solid practical teaching, and is faithful to study and apply the word by first cultivating their own relationship with Christ will grow spiritually. When we grow in the Spirit we also grow in love, and we begin to display gentleness, self control, and kindness just to name a few. So let's be planted in the house of the Lord and not become religious people who just go to church but are the church.
As the psalmist tells us here if we are "planted in the house of the Lord" we "shall flourish", it is a guarantee--not a possibility but a reality. The believer that sits under solid practical teaching, and is faithful to study and apply the word by first cultivating their own relationship with Christ will grow spiritually. When we grow in the Spirit we also grow in love, and we begin to display gentleness, self control, and kindness just to name a few. So let's be planted in the house of the Lord and not become religious people who just go to church but are the church.
- WHAT DOES A SPIRITUALLY ANEMIC CHRISTIAN LOOK LIKE? HOW CAN WE BE HEALTHY BELIEVERS?
- "Like newborn babies, thirst for the pure milk of the word so that by it you may grow in your salvation." -Peter the Apostle (ISV)