A small reflection on Psalm 97:11...
Light is sown like seed for the righteous
And gladness for the upright in heart. (NASB)
Sometimes we all get bogged down by the pressures of life. We might not know what the next step is. We might not feel glad, but rather anxious or distressed or just down.
This verse shows God as active in cultivating our own wisdom and joy. In the context of this verse, God Himself is the planter of light and gladness in our hearts. What a comfort to know that God, like a diligent farmer, is planting seeds of light and gladness in our hearts.
Light - to give understanding and guide us along the paths of our lives.
Gladness - to lift our spirits and remind us of the hope we have in Christ.
Like any seed, it needs to be tended. And yet, even this work, we see in 1 Corinthians 3, which says:
6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. (NIV)
And what of, looking back to Psalm 97, being righteous and upright in heart? 1 Corinthians 1:30 tells us that Christ Himself is our righteousness. We cannot attain it ourselves, but accept His gift.
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,holiness and redemption. (NIV)
And so, you who are in Christ - be lifted and enlightened, and give thanks to God for sowing light and gladness in your heart. Let us look for ways to be God's "co-workers" while at the same time being His own "field".
Light is sown like seed for the righteous
And gladness for the upright in heart. (NASB)
Sometimes we all get bogged down by the pressures of life. We might not know what the next step is. We might not feel glad, but rather anxious or distressed or just down.
This verse shows God as active in cultivating our own wisdom and joy. In the context of this verse, God Himself is the planter of light and gladness in our hearts. What a comfort to know that God, like a diligent farmer, is planting seeds of light and gladness in our hearts.
Light - to give understanding and guide us along the paths of our lives.
Gladness - to lift our spirits and remind us of the hope we have in Christ.
Like any seed, it needs to be tended. And yet, even this work, we see in 1 Corinthians 3, which says:
6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. (NIV)
And what of, looking back to Psalm 97, being righteous and upright in heart? 1 Corinthians 1:30 tells us that Christ Himself is our righteousness. We cannot attain it ourselves, but accept His gift.
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,holiness and redemption. (NIV)
And so, you who are in Christ - be lifted and enlightened, and give thanks to God for sowing light and gladness in your heart. Let us look for ways to be God's "co-workers" while at the same time being His own "field".