Let’s reflect further today on Isaiah 61:3, “Oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” I trust this impact statement has already imprinted itself on your heart and mind. I encourage you to memorize it, possibly including all of verse 3.
When I thought further about this impact statement I came up with the following observations:
1. God’s plan for my life before He planted me was to become an oak of righteousness.
2. God’s ultimate purpose for this plan was to display His splendor through me.
3. God intends to display His splendor through me by making me strong and steady as an oak tree, characterized by righteous character and behavior.
Let’s develop these thoughts further. God’s plan for my life before He planted me was to become an oak of righteousness.
That reminds me of what Psalm 139:14-17 says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!”
When the Psalmist thought of this He cried out, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (verses 23-24).
He wanted to be an oak of righteousness! Do you?
