Big Things Have Small Beginnings
Have you ever thought about trees? Probably not. That’s weird, right? (No offense intended to anyone who loves trees and thinks about them often.) Trees fascinate me. I love being in nature. Gazing up at towering trees truly takes my breath away. In California, there are trees so large you can literally drive a car through it. What? The size is almost incomprehensible, but it’s even crazier to think about where that tree came from. No matter how large or small a tree becomes in its full maturation, it always starts with a tiny seed.
It is no accident that our lives in Scripture are compared to a tree. There are so many similarities, but probably most revealing is the idea that where we are planted has the most profound effect on our lives. We are given a deposit of potential in our lives by God. The Bible teaches us that before the foundation of time, God knew us and crafted us for His purpose and glory. He gave each of us our personality, appearance, interests, and talents.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well, My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. - Psalm 139:13-16
The thing that sets us apart from the world is our ability to either grab control of all of the things God has crafted in us or surrender those things to Him for His glory. The reality is that where a seed is planted makes all the difference. Once it is planted, so much is left up to the conditions around it. If it is planted in the desert, it will only grow so much and will struggle for most of its life. If it is planted near water, its roots can grow strong so that when storms come, there is almost nothing that will be able to knock it down. That applies to us as well. Will you surrender your gifts and talents as offerings to the Lord to be used for His glory or will you take it upon yourself to grow into what you want? The choice is up to you, but the result is ultimately up to God.
This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves Stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. - Jeremiah 17:5-8
JOURNAL: This week, that choice is up to you. Where you decide to plant matters. Ask God to help you surrender to Him. Make a list of all the things you want to give to Him. Your talents, dreams etc. What you give to Him, He promises to return in excess.
It is no accident that our lives in Scripture are compared to a tree. There are so many similarities, but probably most revealing is the idea that where we are planted has the most profound effect on our lives. We are given a deposit of potential in our lives by God. The Bible teaches us that before the foundation of time, God knew us and crafted us for His purpose and glory. He gave each of us our personality, appearance, interests, and talents.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well, My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. - Psalm 139:13-16
The thing that sets us apart from the world is our ability to either grab control of all of the things God has crafted in us or surrender those things to Him for His glory. The reality is that where a seed is planted makes all the difference. Once it is planted, so much is left up to the conditions around it. If it is planted in the desert, it will only grow so much and will struggle for most of its life. If it is planted near water, its roots can grow strong so that when storms come, there is almost nothing that will be able to knock it down. That applies to us as well. Will you surrender your gifts and talents as offerings to the Lord to be used for His glory or will you take it upon yourself to grow into what you want? The choice is up to you, but the result is ultimately up to God.
This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves Stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. - Jeremiah 17:5-8
JOURNAL: This week, that choice is up to you. Where you decide to plant matters. Ask God to help you surrender to Him. Make a list of all the things you want to give to Him. Your talents, dreams etc. What you give to Him, He promises to return in excess.
We'd love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments what God is speaking to you as you read these devotionals. If you haven't already subscribed to receive our devotional emails right to your inbox, hit the subscribe button below and invite your family and friends to subscribe as well! Thank you for being a part of our Opendoor Devotional Community. We appreciate you!
No Comments