Meant to flourish!

Little actions can tell a big story. A driver who instantly honks and swears at us when we pull in front of them suggests they weren't a rose-garden of peace beforehand. (It may not say much for our driving, either!) Always being the first to be served food and never buying someone a coffee sends signals to others about what our character is like. Also, people can form a negative opinion of God through our not-so-attractive character traits.

In the Bible we're told: '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' (Psalm 92:13 NIV). Our not-very-Godlike actions are not the 'flourishing' the psalmist meant.

We looked at palm trees yesterday; let's look at the courts analogy today. In Bible days, the king's courts were where people gathered to talk business, and the king was always close enough to call in when he wanted to. God wants us kept close. If we're in his 'courts', if our business is his business, and we're regularly popping in to chat, then we'll find ourselves flourishing. And, on top of that, those around us will see something of the character of our King in us too, which is only a good thing.



So what now? Galatians 5:22-23 is the 'fruits of the spirit' passage; it's a list of the wonderful attributes we develop when we draw close to God 'in his courts'. Thank God he wants us to flourish.





— SCRIPTURE —

'They will flourish in the courts of our God.' Psalm 92:13 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

2 Sam 14:21-17:13, John 3:1-21, Ps 89:15-37 , Pro 23:15-18