KEY SCRIPTURE Isaiah 61:3 

...that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

RELEVANCE

What did you desire when you came to the Lord? Was it to be saved, escaping sin, drugs, alcohol, or just wanting what the Preacher said you needed?

What did the Lord want? I mean, the long-term plan? 

The Lord desires His followers to become trees of righteousness planted by Him for great use in the work of the Kingdom. The reason? That He might be glorified—that we might be seen always offering our praise to the Lord. God wants to plant righteousness.

When we come to Christ, we put on His garment of Righteousness. As it's a spiritual birth, we want a tree of righteousness to germinate, not something else, such as selfishness or ego. In plantings, every fruit is true to its clone—grape seeds produce grape vines, and apricot kernels produce apricot trees.

So, when we are Born Again, that righteous seed should produce trees of righteousness, bound for spiritual nobility. 

Strong's concordance H5193 means to strike, fix, plant, and establish—all planting terms. God prepares a ground for us, which is most important.

Looking back into the Old Testament, Jeremiah 2:21 speaks of God's disappointment with Israel. They looked nothing like what the Lord planted. Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?

Sadly, they went from spiritual nobility to something unrecognisable compared to their former life and glory. The Lord planted Israel, yet they grew up following strange and wicked things, turning themselves into a deformed plant. We don't want to grow like that. 

Noble—Nobility in Strongs concordance H3358 means rare (nobility—people who are true (to their principles)). God's Elect will be princes of nobility.

Being noble means being true to your type or clone. Acts 17:11 speaks of some people being more noble than others and searching the scriptures daily. 

Nobility in Strong's also means an advantage. If the Lord has put us in a certain place, we are at an advantage because we are in the right place under His authority. The Lord will make our pathway strong and effective. 

Furthermore, nobility oddly means transplant—Strong's H8362. God can take us from one area to another, just as he transplants a plant from one garden to another. He might need to put us in particular areas to toughen or shape us, as He did with me in prison. 

Genesis 2:9 says, And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food. In the big scheme of things, this is where we want to see ourselves.

As a help to achieve that, Romans 6:5 encourages us to focus our growth on the foundation of our faith. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

We aim to always be found walking, working and praising in the newness of life. Hallelujah!

Everything we do should give off a goodness savour. Our benefits should grow outwards so others can be partakers. What fruit we get from our trials and tribulations as we grow is not just for ourselves.

Prayer 

Dear Lord, praise you for the details involved in bringing us to fruition and for turning us into a purposeful asset in your ministries. All honour and glory to thee, Oh Lord. 

Photo by Jan Huber