Psalm 1 is one I continually find myself going back to – the imagery of the tree planted by rivers of water, and as I write this I am reminded of John 15
You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father
will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.
Jesus chose the disciples and he chose people recruitment consultants would suggest take no further
Jesus sees not as the world sees, but he sees the inner person, knows who will storms weather
And will stay the race of faith being witnesses to and of him, fruitful people who other lives make better
For they understand that he first loved them, and out of that know how to love each other.
We are called to bear fruit and fruit that will remain – to do this we need to have a firm understanding of God’s word, an acceptance of the fact that God first loved us, and a desire in light of the love of Christ shown to us that we not love one another, but love our neighbours as ourselves.
Will you take time to seek God’s counsel, to meditate upon his word? As you do you will be enabled to be like the tree planted by streams of living water
Blessed are they who walk not in the counsel of the ungodly
Nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful
For they know that what the world offers is not of Christ’s body
It challenges their every belief; it seeks to hurt and is deceitful
They know God’s love, like a mother hen, God of them is broody
God knows them all, shows to them, his grace oh so wonderful
The Godly delight in the Law of the LORD
And his law they meditate day and night
And as they seek God, they are in one accord
Together in this world there is a battle to fight
The word of God polished in them a two edged sword
In the name of Jesus they pray, demons flee at the sight
The Lord calls his people come meditate upon my word
As you do you will see anew my power and might
God’s people shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water
That brings forth its fruit in its season
Their lives in him to be lived fully, not a half or a quarter
His people know him, everything he does has a reason
His people need upon his word do more than loiter
And to remember they are his salt and light every season
Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper
For they imbibe open, soak in, drink, receive holy water
God commands be my disciples, love one another
Every one of you is mine, each of a son or daughter
Come to me, drink of my Spirit, freely given, without quarter
I called you to bear fruit that would remain and prosper
Mark Maffey, October 2005