Staying Green

The abiding factor:

Ps 1:1-3

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

Abiding is a place of focus. The psalmist exhorts us not to walk, stand or sit with ungodly, sinners and the scornful. This does not just refer to the physical aspect but to where we have our attention or focus. If we are not careful, in the world of the media, we can put too much attention on that which is not spiritually healthy, whether it is TV, DVDs, CDs, the internet, or radio. It may not even be something evil but may affect our spiritual life. Even a preoccupation with the news can affect your vision and perception. We begin to see things as the world does and not as God does.

Staying green means remaining firmly planted and focused on what is of God.  Jesus established three important facts about staying green in John 15:5-8.

1. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit;

2. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered.

3. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be     done for you.

In our changing and deteriorating world it is critical that we keep our focus on Christ and His Word.

The trust factor:

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8

I believe God is calling us as His people to shift our focus and trust totally in Him. God through Christ has made a way for us to stay green no matter what the situation is around us. God is calling us to sink our roots deep into His unchanging character and nature. Then you “will not fear when heat comes, you will not be anxious in the year of drought, and you will not cease from yielding fruit.” He is our all-sufficiency. May you stay ever green as you abide and trust in Him.

Andy Clark