Psalm 92:13-16,
13Orang really will sprout like palm trees, will flourish like a cedar in Lebanon; 14mereka planted in the temple of the Lord will germinate in the courts of our God. 15Pada old age they still bear fruit, fat and fresh, 16untuk proclaim that the Lord is true, that He is my rock and there is no cheating on him.
God wants us to not only grow, but HE wants us to flourish. In verse 14, there are three important points that need our attention, namely:
A. Planting in the Temple of God
Not planted disembarang place, but planted in the temple of God. What does it mean in the plant? In planting here is not in the physical sense, but in a spiritual sense, which means we continue to have a relationship with God and rooted in the Word of God so that we can bear the fruit of good works are pleasing to God.
2. Sprout
Seeds after planting will experience the dying process. But after that it will sprout. Sign that there is life after planted sprouted. Buds that will grow into large trees and trees that will come out of the fruit.
3. Bear fruit
It is clear that God wants us to not only fruitful but HE wants us to continue to bear fruit. Not bear fruit only in their youth, but also in old age. There are Christians who, when they were young, they are actively serving, they bear the fruit of good deeds and be a blessing to many people. But when old they no longer bear fruit. They justify themselves by saying that they are old, as if indeed that's what happens when old. It is certainly not true. Verily the promise of God that even our old age, but we can still be productive in the Lord. Age and our physical presence can not be a barrier to produce spiritual fruit.
Humans often limit God's work with their narrow mindset and compromise with weakness. But God wants to give something more to our lives as it is said "to be fat and fresh" so that the older we still be useful to God. This can all happen if we continue to hope in God. If the person had no more hope in the Lord and surrender to his old age, as if he had scored his old age that his future is a time where he could no longer do anything about it - just waiting to die, then he can no longer produce fruit -spiritual fruit. But if he is a sure trust the word of God and gave his life to God, then even though he was already up, but his life would be a life that continues to bear fruit. His life would be an example and be a channel of blessing to many people. Allow God to do great works through our lives even unto old age we live.
Grazing
This plant is very important, why? If the plant well, then germinate and bear fruit is not a problem. If the plant is not true: for example there are many stones that hinder / interfere with root growth or planted in poor soil medium and hard it will be no problem in it germinate, let alone to grow into a large and fruitful.
The psalmist says that they are planted in the temple of God will flourish, become fat and fresh. So only those that are embedded in the house of God that it can thrive and produce good fruit. Another meaning of embedded in the temple is grazed in the temple. The Bible says that people really find a place suburbs.
Proverbs 12:26,
Suburbs where the person was found, but the way of the wicked misleading their own.
God provides grazing for the righteous so that he can be embedded, germinate and then be able to bear the fruit that remains.
It was certainly different to the wicked, who do not get grazing. They lost by his own thoughts. They come to see the view outside the church because, like a good church building, luxurious amenities and a variety of exciting attractions, or for a position in the church. That is why when the time comes when they face a struggle / problem in the church (experiencing the dying process - like a seed that should have to die before sprouting process), they easily abandon grazing it. They kept looking for grazing. They like to move around the church. Every time there is a problem. They think that it is a sign of their incompatibility in gembalakan in place. They have misled ourselves with the wrong mindset.
AGM
Example that we should look up the life of Ruth (read: Ruth 1). It is said that there were two women who suffered the same weight as what has happened in their family, namely: Orpah and Ruth, who both had lost their husbands and now they are dependent life to Naomi, in-laws. The law was not a rich man but one overseas in Moab, a poor widow who are suffering because of the death of her husband and her children.
Now Orpah and Ruth were willing to follow Naomi back to Bethlehem. But the middle of the road, Naomi told them not to come again and go back to Moab. Naomi it was done because the weight of suffering experienced by these families.
But in verse 10, clearly written that Ruth and Orpah are equally determined to follow Naomi. However, over time, suffering and even then not over, and on the advice of Naomi, Orpah took another decision. At paragraph 14 it is written that in-law Orpah kissed and said goodbye to return to Moab.
Since then, the name Orpah is never again mentioned. Orpah life story then never again be written. As if he was like a tree that no longer produce fruit. He no longer gives an example / example. Orpah had given up his faith in God and go back to Moab.
But it is different from the life of Ruth. Ruth remained steadfast even though Naomi has stated that no more can be expected from him. It means that in the future, if she kept following Naomi, Ruth will then undergo a more severe pain again. But the heart of Ruth does not flinch, though his faith should not fall through problem after problem.
Ruth is the attitude that reveals how the quality of life. Ruth is a descendant of Moab, a nation that does not know God, but in fact the Word of God planted by Naomi in Ruth's life has been sprout, grow and be fruitful.
What is in someone's heart will be revealed through his words. But Ruth said: "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following after thee: for whither thou go, go there too, I go, and where you spend the night, there too, I spent the night: my people and your God my God bangsamulah; where you die, I die there, and there will I be buried. This is what the Lord would punish me, even more so than that, if anything at all to separate me from you, other than death! "(Ruth 1:16-17). This word is expressed firmness of his faith in God. Once he is following God, he is no longer willing to turn away from him, even though for that he must pass through the valley of the shadow of death.
Because it has not always been that way a lot of trouble / temptation is not the way of the Lord. But many times God's use of the issue as a tool / path to bring us to glory and bring us a winner.
Ruth's life from the attitudes we can know that Ruth really been embedded in the holy temple of God. Trials of small or large, can not destroy his faith. Do we have the qualities of Christianity like this; that can not be shaken by anything else?
Even when Naomi talked again to return to Moab, Ruth said: "Do not push me". Are we saying the firm may issue such as this when there are people who persuade us to leave the pasture?
Quality is what makes Christianity such as Ruth was chosen as a way to decrease the Lord Jesus in the world. Who is Ruth? He is a regular woman who just like us, who have many limitations. But he has maintained his faith and grow in the Word of God and have produced fruit. The fruits of his diligence we can enjoy today.
Ruth is the only woman listed in the genealogy of Jesus even though he was a simple woman, but she has become graver history. Usually women can not be included in the list but this time Matthew's genealogy is given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit to enter the name of Ruth (Matthew 1:5). He proved as a powerful woman, loyal and obedient. She followed Naomi is not the motivation, not because Naomi the wealthy, even when he and Naomi had arrived in Bethlehem, Ruth can not just live well. Ruth had to work hard in the fields belonging to Boaz.
Perseverance and persistence is what Ruth was arrested by God, and serve as an example to his people from generation to genarasi. If we want God's plan fulfilled in your life, then let it go yourself to the crisis through the points.
Ruth has been an example / role model for us. He does not run when there is the problem. He did not leave Naomi (authority) when they should have moments that are uncomfortable.
In a pastoral, sometimes we too experience something unpleasant. Can you come across as a tough private like Ruth? Do not leave your grazing, because God always has a wonderful plan in place for pastoral care of the faithful and diligent. Amin.
Speaker: Rev.. Well Paul Yedid
Sunday, February 14, 2010
