The Plumbline

When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have . A different plant grows from each kind of seed. (I Corinthians 15:36-38) A seed must undergo a transformation before it ever can bear fruit. It goes into the ground, but it is still not a plant capable of fruit-bearing. Until the transformation occurs that reveals roots, stem, branches, and eventually buds occur there is no real 'hope' for fruit. The seed is merely a promise of what is about to come, but if you are anything like me, your garden seeds don't always seem to sprout, much less produce! The seed 'exists' - under the soil. It just never sprouted. There is probably a whole lot of seed in our lives that 'exists' but never sprouts. We might not realize how much seed is actually 'wasted...

Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. (I Chronicles 16:11) " Desire is the key to motivation, but it is determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek ." (Mario Andretti) Imagine a race car driver assuming the position behind the wheel of a highly powered auto, revving the engine several times, buckled in, watching intently for the flag to drop signifying the start of the race. What sense would it make for the driver to rev and rev, then putt-putt away from the starting line, lagging behind all those who are out lapping him? He has all the power he needs - he just doesn't tap into it! He knows the goal is the finish line, but he doesn't seem to be committed to the goal, just the ride.  God needs individuals who are more than along for the ride - he needs those who will tap into the power he provides - using it fully to see they cross the f...

If I were to ask you what it means to be living a "flourishing" life, you might gravitate toward a life filled with companions, things which bring you happiness, and sufficient  resources to live pretty close to "ease".  Yet, if you really read what scripture has to say about a flourishing life, it is the opposite of a dead thing which once produced life!  We often associate flourishing with success - not so much the growth experience, but the "benefits" of growth.  God looks at the experience - the benefits are the outcome of the growth.  Without the growth, the tree has no purpose. A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump;  a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.  (Proverbs 11:28 MSG) If God focuses on the growth, we probably would do well to focus on the same.  A flourishing tree has evidence of the vigorous growth which is occurring "inside" which produces the evidence of growth on the "outside".  Leaves are an indicati...