December 18- Flourish- Green
Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. Proverbs 11:28
Solomon sets “those who trust in their riches” in contrast to “the righteous.” He says that the former fall and the latter thrive. Those who trust in riches fall because their trust is misguided. It leads them to accumulate wealth for security rather than trust in God. This road leads to destruction.
There’s a better way. In his book, Generous Justice, Tim Keller describes ‘the righteous’ as those who live “a life of right relationships.” To add depth to our understanding, he cites biblical scholar Alec Motyer who defines ‘the righteous’ as those who are “right with God and therefore committed to putting right all other relationships in life.”
What does this look like? The righteous use their resources to put things right around them. Rather than store up wealth, they share it. It may start with showing love to a neighbor but soon, it may impact the neighborhood. And here’s where the green leaf part comes in: when we live this way, our lives perpetually show new growth. Like a flourishing tree, we enrich the lives of some with shade and we bless others with fruit.
God, teach me to trust You to care for me. Help me handle money righteously so I put things right around me. Amen.
Here are some ideas to help you put God’s resources to work. Set up a special account at your bank for giving, or if you already have such an account, decide today to grow your giving to it. Why do this? Through the practice of giving, you grow your trust in God and learn to play your role in helping things flourish around you.
December 19-Flourish- Consequences
You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be disgraced because of the gardens that you have chosen. You will be like an oak with fading leaves, like a garden without water. Isaiah 1:29-30
We all make bad decisions. The difference is that some of us admit our mistakes and chart a new course while some of us don’t. C.S. Lewis wrote, “Each day we are becoming a creature of splendid glory or one of unthinkable horror.” Who are you becoming? Seriously, ask yourself this question. Who are you becoming? If you don’t ask yourself this question now in honest reflection, you may regret it later.
In today’s Scripture, notice what accompanies bad judgments. Shame. Disgrace. When we delight in wrong things, our leaves fade. When we make poor choices, we wither like a garden without water. We reap what we sow. This reading aims to shake and wake us, all of us. We must consider the consequences of our choices in order to flourish. This means coming clean with our mistakes so our failures don’t define us.
Is there anything in your life you regret? Now is the time to bring it before God to ask Him to make it right.
God, forgive my mistakes. Help me make a new start. Amen.
If we don’t give our garbage to God, it stays with us and stinks! When we confess and release our sin to God, He cleanses us and makes all things new. Who do you want to become? Ask God to help you. He will! Identify a person in your life that might help cultivate your growth, like a gardener nurtures a plant. Ask that person to meet regularly to build a relationship. Why? Tell them you want your life to produce fruit that lasts.
December 20-Flourish- Shelter
Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. Daniel 4:12
Only mature trees give shelter. Visit a park or orchard to see for yourself. If you go to Veteran’s Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for example, the mature trees provide amazing shade. They give shelter from the rain and offer shade from the scorching summer sun. In the poem, “You Can Never Tell,” Ella Wheeler Cox makes a powerful connection between the deeds we do and the impact they can have.
You can never tell when you do an act Just what the result will be; But with every deed you are sowing a seed,
Though its harvest you may not see. Each kindly act is an acorn dropped In God’s productive soil. Though you may not know, but the tree shall grow
With shelter for those who toil.
God wants us to sow seeds by doing kindly acts. That’s our part! And when we do, He grows mature trees that provide shelter from the storms of life.
God, help me do kindly acts that grow mature trees. Amen.
Who needs shelter in your city? How might you act kindly toward them to encourage them and help them grow into mature trees? List three acts you could do and one person with whom you could collaborate. You may not see the results in your lifetime, but that’s okay! Our job is to exhibit kindness daily.
December 21-Flourish- Feeding and Healing
Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing. Ezekiel 47:12
The prophet Ezekiel gives us a vision of the river that flows from the temple of God and the bountiful fruit trees growing in His eternal kingdom. Rather than focus on when this will take place, let’s notice what the trees provide and make it our aim to be such trees today. The Scripture teaches us that every month they bear fruit for food. What would it look like for you to bear fruit monthly? It would allow you to give joyfully and to be generous to others. This might take shape as a weekly rhythm of service or regular giving to a wide range of recipients.
The biblical text also says their leaves offer healing. How might you not only nourish those around you but administer care to the broken and hurting? This could appear as identifying rather than ignoring the marginalized and empowering them with your love and support.
Want to be like these trees? Note the secret to having capacity to feed and heal others: first, be filled with nourishment from God. Today’s Scripture says, “the water from the sanctuary flows to them.” We first receive what we need and then help others with what they need.
Holy Spirit, nourish me so I am equipped to provide care for others. Amen.
As you wrap up the third week of FLOURISH, take a pause. Are you depleted physically or spiritually? Identify how God can nourish you so that you can better serve others.
December 22-Flourish- Plans
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
What stirs in you when you read this Scripture? Likely, you feel gratitude that God has a plan for you. Others who may be going through hard times appreciate that His plans aim to bring hope and not harm.
But wait! Read it again. And each time it says ‘you,’ remember that it is you (plural) referring to all God’s people and not just you (singular). Now, what stands out to you after re-reading it?
For us, we observe that the Lord’s plan for our collective prosperity includes two gifts: hope and a future for all of us. When Jeremiah prophesied, God’s people were in exile for their own sinfulness. They probably felt hopeless. They almost assuredly thought they had no future.
Maybe you feel the same way? Your decisions in life may have brought you to a place where you feel hopeless. You may have broken relationships or suffered a series of losses. In reading this devotional, you may reason that flourishing is possible for some but not for you. We’ve got good news for you. The Lord’s plans for all of us include both hope and a future.
Lord, thank you for opening my eyes to realize that Your plans for us aim to bring hope and not harm to everyone. Amen.
Know anyone who might feel bereft of hope? Perhaps they have made decisions that appear to give them no future? Search them out and share the truth of today’s reading. If you feel hopeless, go look in a mirror and tell yourself that the Lord has plans for you that include hope and a future.
December 23-Flourish- The Secret
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13
Here’s an interesting fact about Philippi you may not know. This ancient city was named after Philip of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great. But before it got that name around 359 BC, it was called Crenides, meaning “fountains.” It was known for springs of water and rich gold mines.
So, we can surmise that the locals thought to abound in any situation, you just needed to enjoy the best that Philippi had to offer. Cool water and shiny gold. Sound familiar? We see similar messages today on billboards and banner advertisements.
The Apostle Paul reveals the secret to flourishing. It’s not found in worldly wares. We can be content in all circumstances in life if we find our strength in Christ. He is all we have ever needed, need now, or will ever need. Some who read this may be hearing this secret for the first time. Others may know it well. Either way, we possess it now and it’s priceless! And like Paul, if we share it with others as a free gift, we can help them flourish.
Christ, help me to always be content and guide me to someone who needs to know the secret. Amen.
The power of this secret is rooted in Paul’s personal testimony. He did not just know it was true in his head, he knew it was true by experience. What about you? Take a few minutes to journal about how Christ has helped you navigate the circumstances of life. Share your experiences with someone.
Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. Proverbs 11:28
Solomon sets “those who trust in their riches” in contrast to “the righteous.” He says that the former fall and the latter thrive. Those who trust in riches fall because their trust is misguided. It leads them to accumulate wealth for security rather than trust in God. This road leads to destruction.
There’s a better way. In his book, Generous Justice, Tim Keller describes ‘the righteous’ as those who live “a life of right relationships.” To add depth to our understanding, he cites biblical scholar Alec Motyer who defines ‘the righteous’ as those who are “right with God and therefore committed to putting right all other relationships in life.”
What does this look like? The righteous use their resources to put things right around them. Rather than store up wealth, they share it. It may start with showing love to a neighbor but soon, it may impact the neighborhood. And here’s where the green leaf part comes in: when we live this way, our lives perpetually show new growth. Like a flourishing tree, we enrich the lives of some with shade and we bless others with fruit.
God, teach me to trust You to care for me. Help me handle money righteously so I put things right around me. Amen.
Here are some ideas to help you put God’s resources to work. Set up a special account at your bank for giving, or if you already have such an account, decide today to grow your giving to it. Why do this? Through the practice of giving, you grow your trust in God and learn to play your role in helping things flourish around you.
December 19-Flourish- Consequences
You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be disgraced because of the gardens that you have chosen. You will be like an oak with fading leaves, like a garden without water. Isaiah 1:29-30
We all make bad decisions. The difference is that some of us admit our mistakes and chart a new course while some of us don’t. C.S. Lewis wrote, “Each day we are becoming a creature of splendid glory or one of unthinkable horror.” Who are you becoming? Seriously, ask yourself this question. Who are you becoming? If you don’t ask yourself this question now in honest reflection, you may regret it later.
In today’s Scripture, notice what accompanies bad judgments. Shame. Disgrace. When we delight in wrong things, our leaves fade. When we make poor choices, we wither like a garden without water. We reap what we sow. This reading aims to shake and wake us, all of us. We must consider the consequences of our choices in order to flourish. This means coming clean with our mistakes so our failures don’t define us.
Is there anything in your life you regret? Now is the time to bring it before God to ask Him to make it right.
God, forgive my mistakes. Help me make a new start. Amen.
If we don’t give our garbage to God, it stays with us and stinks! When we confess and release our sin to God, He cleanses us and makes all things new. Who do you want to become? Ask God to help you. He will! Identify a person in your life that might help cultivate your growth, like a gardener nurtures a plant. Ask that person to meet regularly to build a relationship. Why? Tell them you want your life to produce fruit that lasts.
December 20-Flourish- Shelter
Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. Daniel 4:12
Only mature trees give shelter. Visit a park or orchard to see for yourself. If you go to Veteran’s Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for example, the mature trees provide amazing shade. They give shelter from the rain and offer shade from the scorching summer sun. In the poem, “You Can Never Tell,” Ella Wheeler Cox makes a powerful connection between the deeds we do and the impact they can have.
You can never tell when you do an act Just what the result will be; But with every deed you are sowing a seed,
Though its harvest you may not see. Each kindly act is an acorn dropped In God’s productive soil. Though you may not know, but the tree shall grow
With shelter for those who toil.
God wants us to sow seeds by doing kindly acts. That’s our part! And when we do, He grows mature trees that provide shelter from the storms of life.
God, help me do kindly acts that grow mature trees. Amen.
Who needs shelter in your city? How might you act kindly toward them to encourage them and help them grow into mature trees? List three acts you could do and one person with whom you could collaborate. You may not see the results in your lifetime, but that’s okay! Our job is to exhibit kindness daily.
December 21-Flourish- Feeding and Healing
Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing. Ezekiel 47:12
The prophet Ezekiel gives us a vision of the river that flows from the temple of God and the bountiful fruit trees growing in His eternal kingdom. Rather than focus on when this will take place, let’s notice what the trees provide and make it our aim to be such trees today. The Scripture teaches us that every month they bear fruit for food. What would it look like for you to bear fruit monthly? It would allow you to give joyfully and to be generous to others. This might take shape as a weekly rhythm of service or regular giving to a wide range of recipients.
The biblical text also says their leaves offer healing. How might you not only nourish those around you but administer care to the broken and hurting? This could appear as identifying rather than ignoring the marginalized and empowering them with your love and support.
Want to be like these trees? Note the secret to having capacity to feed and heal others: first, be filled with nourishment from God. Today’s Scripture says, “the water from the sanctuary flows to them.” We first receive what we need and then help others with what they need.
Holy Spirit, nourish me so I am equipped to provide care for others. Amen.
As you wrap up the third week of FLOURISH, take a pause. Are you depleted physically or spiritually? Identify how God can nourish you so that you can better serve others.
December 22-Flourish- Plans
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
What stirs in you when you read this Scripture? Likely, you feel gratitude that God has a plan for you. Others who may be going through hard times appreciate that His plans aim to bring hope and not harm.
But wait! Read it again. And each time it says ‘you,’ remember that it is you (plural) referring to all God’s people and not just you (singular). Now, what stands out to you after re-reading it?
For us, we observe that the Lord’s plan for our collective prosperity includes two gifts: hope and a future for all of us. When Jeremiah prophesied, God’s people were in exile for their own sinfulness. They probably felt hopeless. They almost assuredly thought they had no future.
Maybe you feel the same way? Your decisions in life may have brought you to a place where you feel hopeless. You may have broken relationships or suffered a series of losses. In reading this devotional, you may reason that flourishing is possible for some but not for you. We’ve got good news for you. The Lord’s plans for all of us include both hope and a future.
Lord, thank you for opening my eyes to realize that Your plans for us aim to bring hope and not harm to everyone. Amen.
Know anyone who might feel bereft of hope? Perhaps they have made decisions that appear to give them no future? Search them out and share the truth of today’s reading. If you feel hopeless, go look in a mirror and tell yourself that the Lord has plans for you that include hope and a future.
December 23-Flourish- The Secret
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13
Here’s an interesting fact about Philippi you may not know. This ancient city was named after Philip of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great. But before it got that name around 359 BC, it was called Crenides, meaning “fountains.” It was known for springs of water and rich gold mines.
So, we can surmise that the locals thought to abound in any situation, you just needed to enjoy the best that Philippi had to offer. Cool water and shiny gold. Sound familiar? We see similar messages today on billboards and banner advertisements.
The Apostle Paul reveals the secret to flourishing. It’s not found in worldly wares. We can be content in all circumstances in life if we find our strength in Christ. He is all we have ever needed, need now, or will ever need. Some who read this may be hearing this secret for the first time. Others may know it well. Either way, we possess it now and it’s priceless! And like Paul, if we share it with others as a free gift, we can help them flourish.
Christ, help me to always be content and guide me to someone who needs to know the secret. Amen.
The power of this secret is rooted in Paul’s personal testimony. He did not just know it was true in his head, he knew it was true by experience. What about you? Take a few minutes to journal about how Christ has helped you navigate the circumstances of life. Share your experiences with someone.
Posted in Daily Devotionals