BLOOM WHERE YOU’RE PLANTED
Colossians 3:17, 23
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. …
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
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The Lord used the prophet Jeremiah to issue a warning to Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 26:4-6
“Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says: If you do not listen to me and follow my law which I have set before you, and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened), then I will make this house like Shiloh and this city an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth.’ “
But Jerusalem wouldn’t listen. So God allowed the people of Jerusalem to be taken into exile by Babylon. There they would remain for 70 years.
They must have been felt so discouraged and defeated. They were aliens in a foreign land, with no hope for a future. But Jeremiah had another word from the LORD:
Jeremiah 29:4-7
This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
My translation – “Bloom where you’re planted!”
Jeremiah told the Israelites to make the best of things. He told them to go ahead and put down roots, to build houses, plant gardens, let your sons and daughters get married, go on with your life. Make the most of the situation. Seek peace and prosperity in your new your city because when Babylon prospers, you will prosper, too.
This is a lesson for me. There are days when I feel stuck in my job. I would love to spend my time studying God’s Word, doing good deeds in His Name, sharing the gospel, teaching His Truths. I love doing those things, and I feel that’s what honors God. But instead, I have a real job I must do to help provide for my family. My real job is not in ministry. I’m a mortgage banker, and I help people get financing for their homes. It’s not exactly the “higher calling” that I desire! But maybe God has a reason for me being right where I am.
Paul says that whatever I do, whether it’s teaching a bible class or helping a client get his loan, I should do it in a way that honors the Name of Jesus. I am an Ambassador of Christ wherever I am and whatever I’m doing. The way I do my job reflects on His power in my life. If I’m not ethical or conscientious in my work, if I’m not giving each customer my very best, then I’m not representing my Lord honorably.
I deal with lots of people in my job. Every day I have opportunities to be “salt and light” to the people I meet. I don’t have to “preach with words”, I can teach by example. What sermon will my life preach today? Will others see Jesus living in me? Or will they see someone just going through the motions of the day, longing for 5:00 to come so I can “clock out”?
God’s people should be known for their excellence. We should always be the ones most willing to do whatever needs to be done and without complaining; we should be the ones who work harder and with more enthusiasm than our co-workers who do not have our Hope. We should be more powerful, more effective, more productive and wiser BECAUSE we have access to the Spirit of God living within us. We have the Holy Spirit with us every moment. And He is more than willing to guide us throughout our day; helping us to make decisions that honor Him, showing us how to do everything we do for His glory. All we have to do is ask and be willing to give Him control.
And I don’t have to be the “boss” or the “leader” in order to be a powerful influence. Every relationship I have should honor Christ.
Colossians 3:18-22
Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
Slaves (employees) obey your earthly (employers) masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
As a wife, I’m not the head of my family, but I do have a powerful influence on my family. I can honor Christ by submitting to my husband and helping him to be stronger and more effective in all he does. I can be his helper or I can constantly beat him down with my words and disrespect. “Slaves” can equate to “employees” for my purposes here. As an employee I should be respectful of my employer. Whether he’s out of the office or in the next room, I should work diligently at the task he’s given me. If I do that with a sincere heart, I honor my employer but more importantly, I honor the Lord.
Wherever God plants me that is where I need to bloom. He has a plan for me. And that plan is so much better than my plan, so I’m going to trust Him and “bloom where He plants me”. Jeremiah had one more message for the Exiles in Babylon, and that message is for me, too.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD…
“Wherever we're planted, there's something to give thanks for. There's someone to help, a garden to grow, and a life to build. We're in the midst of it all, and God is, too. With his love, we can bloom and we can thrive ... wherever we're planted.” Susan Bennett
http://youtu.be/OHUppFNjy5E - The Motions - Matthew West
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