SCRIPTURE
This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; They will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:5-8
SPOTLIGHT
Do you want to experience LIFE'S GREATEST BLESSING? Maybe you are wondering what it is, or maybe you think you already have it. Throughout the Bible, you learn that the greatest blessing you can receive in life is God’s Presence, Love and Power. I call it God’s PLP: God’s Presence, God’s Love, God’s Power. When you possess that, you are wealthier than the richest person in the world, and for that matter, wealthier than all the richest people put together.
But how do you get this blessing? How do you receive/possess God’s Presence, Love, and Power?
In the book of Jeremiah, you read a story about a prophet named Jeremiah, who was chosen by God to warn the Jewish people not to give up LIFE’S GREATEST BLESSING, without experiencing disaster. Jeremiah was a timid man who was reluctant to tell his people that God loved them, but because of their sin, they were going to experience God’s judgment. He greatly suffered for being God’s messenger, yet he personally realized he possessed LIFE’S GREATEST BLESSING. (see Jeremiah 12:6; 11:18; 18:18; 20:1-3; 26).
Have you come to the point in your life where you value God’s Presence, Love, and Power more than anything else in the world? In Jeremiah 17: 5-8, the prophet paints a picture of a cursed person and a blessed person - one who does not have God’s Presence, Love, and Power, and the other who is blessed with it. Note the characteristics of the person who is cursed:
- Someone who depends only on people. [Jer. 17:5a].
- Someone who believes his muscle power is all that is needed. [Jer. 17:5b].
- Someone who ignores God. [Jer. 17:5c].
- Someone who is out of touch with reality. [Jer. 17:6a].
- Someone who is restless. [Jer. 17: 6b].
- Someone who is aimless. [Jer. 17: 6c].
Do you know anyone who is marked by these characteristics? That person does not know the invaluable possession of God’s PLP. On the other hand, please note the characteristics of the person who is experiencing, LIFE’S GREATEST BLESSING:
- Someone who trusts God. [Jer. 17:7a].
- Someone who completely trusts God in all of life’s situations and trials. [Jer. 17:7b].
- Someone who develops deep spiritual roots. [Jer. 17:8a], [Psalm 1], [Colossians 2:10].
- Someone who enjoys God’s calm when facing life’s heat and drought. [Jer. 17:8b].
- Someone who purposes to bear fruit in any situation. [Jer. 17:8c].
Memorize Jeremiah 17:7a, “BUT BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO TRUSTS IN THE LORD, WHOSE CONFIDENCE IS IN HIM.” When you trust God with your life, you receive the blessing of God on your life. Putting your confidence in Jesus Christ rather than yourself, people, or things, bestows on you LIFE’S GREATEST BLESSING. What can compare to possessing the blessing of Almighty God, Creator, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Ruler of heaven and earth, who we are privileged to know as Father God?
Trust God and experience His PLP - Presence, Love and Power. The world’s standards of being blessed do not compare to God’s PLP. Rich people trust their wealth. Powerful people trust their strength. Educated people trust knowledge. The person who trusts God has a confidence that life here on earth and throughout eternity, will be greatly blessed by God. There is nothing better than God’s PLP - Presence, Love and Power. Choose LIFE’S GREATEST BLESSING!
SOMETHING TO DO
Evaluate yourself. Review the characteristics of the cursed person and the blessed person. On a scale of 1 to 5, give yourself a rating with 1, meaning little, and 5, meaning much.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I value Your Presence, Love and Power in my life more than anything else in this world. Guard me from complacency and temptation to change. Thank You for blessing me with the privilege of personally knowing You, and all the blessings that come with that. AMEN.