Putting Down Roots

Chuckle: "I received some bad news today. You know the money you get from those ATM machines? All that money comes from your account . . .!!"

Quote: "Only Jesus Christ by His Holy Spirit can open blind eyes, give life to the dead and rescue slaves from Satanic bondage." --John Stott

"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God" (Psalm 92:12-13 NIV). "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither" (Psalm 1:3 NIV).

Spring is my favorite time of the year and I’m hoping the next one will be beautiful with all the colorful wildflowers and green fields. However, sometimes, here in Texas, droughts destroy the natural beauty of spring. Normally, spring is a time when many are busy tilling the soil in their gardens or fields in preparation for planting. If there's one thing a gardener and a farmer have in common, it is the understanding that there must be a deep and healthy root system if a plant is to flourish and bear a bountiful crop. Our Christian lives are like that.

God has commissioned us to "go and make disciples" -- to bear a harvest of fruit for His honor and glory. But we must realize that we cannot bear fruit unless we have deep roots in God's Word and His presence in the form of the Holy Spirit. When our lives are rooted in Him, His Spirit will provide all the life-giving spiritual sustenance and direction we need to grow spiritually and bear much fruit for His kingdom.

How do we go about putting down deep roots in His presence? Jesus' own words will give us the answer. Jesus said this: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5 NIV).

When we spend time in God's presence through Bible study, prayer, worship, and faithful obedience, we are practicing the essentials for maintaining the life-giving connection with Him and being used by Him in His work with people all around us. Are you rooted in Him? Are you drawing His life-giving sustenance into your life? Only by remaining in Christ can we have the fruitful life God desires for us.

As points of reference, the psalmist compares righteous people to palm trees and cedars. Palm trees are known for growing straight and tall with long lives. The cedars of Lebanon grew to 130 feet in height and up to 8.2 feet in diameter. In our passages, Christians are seen as standing straight and tall and unmovable. When their roots go deep into God's presence, they will, inevitably, produce fruit for God's kingdom.

Love, Jerry & Dotse