Oaks of Righteousness
Please read Isaiah 61:1-4
In this passage, the author relates that the spirit of the Lord is upon him, and he has been anointed to be good news and a positive presence for others, specifically the downtrodden, sorrowful, and mourning. He says they will be called “oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.” Isn’t that a wonderful image? I have observed that oak trees are tall and regal-looking with distinctive leaves. Their fruit, the acorn, is also easily recognizable. Oak wood is very strong and hard, fairly impervious to insects and fungus because of its high tannin content, and very attractive on the inside, making it prized for use in buildings, furniture, floors, boats and a host of other items.
It seems to me that these are qualities that would be good for us to strive for as Christians. Imagine if we stood out because we lead lives indicative of being “planted by the Lord“; if our “clothes” of righteousness were distinctive because they reflected our priorities and actions as being God-influenced; if the fruits of our actions were easily recognizable as evidence of a strong relationship with our creator and an openness to follow his leading; if we “display[ed] his glory.”
How beautiful to reflect strength in our living such that we stand up for what is just without concern for the consequences; that we boldly follow God, even past the boundaries of our comfort; that we model strength of character in the difficult, trying situations of life without wavering in our faith.
What a delight it would be to live as though we are impervious to the insects and diseases with which we come into contact daily--those things and people, including ourselves sometimes, which lure us into self-centeredness, apathy, laziness, idolatry, unforgiveness, and other conditions which stand in the way of living a life centered on God. What a blessing it would be if our age and experiences made us, like the oak, more and more attractive on the inside and if that were the way we all measured another’s worth rather than by physical beauty, title, possessions owned or money accumulated.
I know; I’ve just listed a lot of lofty aspirations and seemingly unattainable goals. If we take small steps, however, beginning with ordering our priorities and making efforts to put and keep Christ at the center of our lives through worship, prayer and meditation, and the study of God’s word, we just might experience a taller stature reflecting our growth toward God. We might also realize that our branches are growing outward as we reach to touch others. Pretty soon we too might be called oaks of righteousness, and when our time on this earth is finished, maybe those who observed or were affected by our growth would be inspired to do the same.
Dear God, in this Advent season may we take time to assess and reorder our priorities and to consider the legacy we will leave on this earth. May we, like the mighty oak, work to become strong, inwardly beautiful people who live to do your will. Amen.
Mary Taylor
In this passage, the author relates that the spirit of the Lord is upon him, and he has been anointed to be good news and a positive presence for others, specifically the downtrodden, sorrowful, and mourning. He says they will be called “oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.” Isn’t that a wonderful image? I have observed that oak trees are tall and regal-looking with distinctive leaves. Their fruit, the acorn, is also easily recognizable. Oak wood is very strong and hard, fairly impervious to insects and fungus because of its high tannin content, and very attractive on the inside, making it prized for use in buildings, furniture, floors, boats and a host of other items.
It seems to me that these are qualities that would be good for us to strive for as Christians. Imagine if we stood out because we lead lives indicative of being “planted by the Lord“; if our “clothes” of righteousness were distinctive because they reflected our priorities and actions as being God-influenced; if the fruits of our actions were easily recognizable as evidence of a strong relationship with our creator and an openness to follow his leading; if we “display[ed] his glory.”
How beautiful to reflect strength in our living such that we stand up for what is just without concern for the consequences; that we boldly follow God, even past the boundaries of our comfort; that we model strength of character in the difficult, trying situations of life without wavering in our faith.
What a delight it would be to live as though we are impervious to the insects and diseases with which we come into contact daily--those things and people, including ourselves sometimes, which lure us into self-centeredness, apathy, laziness, idolatry, unforgiveness, and other conditions which stand in the way of living a life centered on God. What a blessing it would be if our age and experiences made us, like the oak, more and more attractive on the inside and if that were the way we all measured another’s worth rather than by physical beauty, title, possessions owned or money accumulated.
I know; I’ve just listed a lot of lofty aspirations and seemingly unattainable goals. If we take small steps, however, beginning with ordering our priorities and making efforts to put and keep Christ at the center of our lives through worship, prayer and meditation, and the study of God’s word, we just might experience a taller stature reflecting our growth toward God. We might also realize that our branches are growing outward as we reach to touch others. Pretty soon we too might be called oaks of righteousness, and when our time on this earth is finished, maybe those who observed or were affected by our growth would be inspired to do the same.
Dear God, in this Advent season may we take time to assess and reorder our priorities and to consider the legacy we will leave on this earth. May we, like the mighty oak, work to become strong, inwardly beautiful people who live to do your will. Amen.
Mary Taylor
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