When I Grow Up!

When I was a child, the most important question was "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Thinking about it now it's funny; I always said a teacher. I went to college for business and communication because I was chasing the corporate job. Now 10 years later after graduating from college with a business degree and communication minor, I am a teacher in "real" life as an occupation and I teach as a ministry calling. I am 33 years old, but I still have some growing to do. In seeking this growth, I have a new answer to this question.  I want to be a "tree of righteousness". I want everything I do to come from being planted by the Lord. 

Isaiah 61:3 ".....they may be called trees of righteousness,The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

At the end of my life I want to be called righteous. I want the Lord to be glorified in the way I lived in front of the world and in secret.

In order to be a tree planted by the Lord there are some requirements: 

1- Watch who has my ear, my heart, and my company 

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; Ps 1:1

 We have to watch where we are receiving counsel from. Ungodly means "denying or disobeying God; immoral or evil." I have heard some good advice from people who are not saved or people not living "fully committed" to Jesus Christ. If I want to be a tree planted by the Lord, I have to watch who I allow to speak into my life. The bible tells us to test the spirit and see if it lines up with biblical teachings. (1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15) Scornful means showing contempt. Scornful people are condescending, disrespectful, insulting, prideful and act superior to everyone else. When I read this definition I had to first examine my own heart. I can not be a scornful person or keep company with scornful people. Do not be misled, it is true bad company corrupts good habits. Think about how influenced you are by the company you keep. Have you said something out of your normal vocabulary and thought "where did I get that from?" Have you been in the midst of conversation and someone says you sound like "XYZ"? We are naturally influenced by the people and the environment around us. That is why we must watch who we connect with and where we go. We can also be the influence. It's a two-way street. Just make sure you do not find yourself on the wrong path with the wrong person driving your emotions and decisions. (1 Corinthians 15:33) Watch your ears, guard your heart, and keep good company! 

2-  Delight in the Word and keep it before me at all times 

But delight in the law of the Lord, And in His law meditate day and night. Ps 1:2

To meditate on something means to think deeply about it; to ponder on it; or to focus your mind on it. We have to make sure the Word of God is the final authority in our life. I can not tell you how many times I have had the opportunity to do things that were permissible but not beneficial or constructive to my walk with Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:33) If you want to be planted by the Lord and called righteous, I think the One who is righteous and holy should determine what is beneficial for your Life. My measuring stick is the word of the Lord not what people tell me or what everyone is doing. We are told in 2 Peter to make our calling sure! (2 Peter 1:10) Have you ever heard some one say "work the word and the word will work for you?" Once we have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we are saved. It is by Grace that we are saved not by works that we should boast in ourselves. (Ephesians 2:8-9) After we give our life to Jesus, we must be fruitful in our faith. 

2 Peter 1:5-9 "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins."

We must keep working the word so that we can walk out our salvation. 

When we Watch our ears, heart & company and keep the Word of the Lord before us at all times, we will then be like a tree planted! 

He shall be like a tree planted  by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Ps 1:3

When I grow up I want to be a tree of righteousness. I want to be planted by Lord. I want be unmovable and unshaken by the world around me. I want to bear fruit that remains. I want my life to be a reflection of the heart of God. I want to hear him say Well done my GOOD and FAITHFUL SERVANT! For me it's not enough to be known as good person. I want to be a good and faithful servant of the Lord. 

What do you want to be when you grow up?