Corona Devo 3227


On a walk the other day, I came upon a tree.  
A tall, beautiful, straight tree.  So erect, and ...so straight...its vertical-ness seemed to be like a wooden line drawn from within the earth into the sky: straight up...and straight down. 

It was awe-inspiring.

I had to stop to admire the alignment and the stark statement that this (so straight!) tree trunk seemed to make.   There was not a crooked crick in this tree's trunk, and staring up at it seemed to me as if I was staring up into a perfect specimen of a tree.  

Its stance was perfectly true.  Its height was noble.  Each inch seemed perfectly right, and the tree as a whole was completely admirable.  

This tree...this beautiful, straight, tall, and true tree seemed to stand for all things correct and righteous.

Do we?  
Might anyone accuse us of resembling this tree in spiritual-stance and effect? 
 
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  ~Philippians 4:8   

How is our faith-stature today?  Do we duck a little when it comes to standing-tall for Christ?  Are our shoulders hunched so that we might "fit in" or "blend in" with those around us, rather than standing-out and firm in the foundations that the Bible has laid for us, God's children?

Do we have cricks and bends in our story and in our faith?  
Of course we do.  
...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...  ~Romans 3:23

But even if we have not been standing firm and upright in God's ways...we can.  We still can be and become pillars of righteousness for God's glory.  Jesus Christ has made that possible for us.  

If we have been bent-in-sin or cowering in defeat, today can be the day that we stand tall in Christ and because of Christ.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  ~2 Corinthians 5:21

We can straighten up and stand tall with our Savior today.  We can ask for His help in this, and He gives it.  We can stand tall with Jesus.   

  • Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  ~Philippians 4:8   
  • Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.  ~Matthew 5:8  

~~~

Let's decide-to-be (or continue-in-striving to be) an oak of righteousness today.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.  ~Isaiah 61:3

What if people looked at us...
What if WE looked at us... 
What if the Lord looked at us...
        And saw an oak of righteousness: standing (in word, deed,and faith) tall, beautiful, and straight for our God?  

What if we could be like a vertical line with our (human) feet planted on the earthly ground, but our spiritual-soul soaring with our Savior in a higher place?

People might ridicule our faith in God, and even persecute us for it.  But: (for-God or against-Him)--the world cannot help but take notice of the alignment and the stark statement that a life lived for the Lord makes. 

It is awe-inspiring.

With Christ and in Christ, our stance is true, and our height is noble.  We can be a beautiful, straight, tall, and true tree standing for all things correct and righteous.  Standing tall for God.


Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. (2) Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—(3) they do no wrong but follow his ways. 
(4) You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. 
(5) Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! 
(6) Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.
(7) I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.
(8) I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me. 
(9) How can a young person stay on the path of purity? 
By living according to your word. 
(10) I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 
(11) I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 
(12) Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. 
(13) With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 
(14) I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 
(15) I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 
(16) I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. 
(17) Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word. 
(18) Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.  ~Psalm 119:1-18


Beautiful, straight, tall, and true...Let's stand for all things correct and righteous.
Let's stand tall for our Lord today!

Might anyone accuse us of resembling a tall, Scripturally-straight tree in our stance and effect? 
I sure hope so.



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