Like A Tree

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Scripture: Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV)

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Devotion:

Today’s scripture passage is a devotional unto itself. It makes us consider our own lives and how we live day to day. We often look only to the surface appearance of things. God, through the prophet, urges us to go deeper and consider how we can really live the life that God wants for us to live. Let us now consider what God has promised those who seek the deeper life in Him.

This scripture is alive with vivid images; let’s unpack them now. First, consider the tree’s roots. They are reaching for the stream that flows with the life of God. Roots are hidden from us. But through them flows the abundant life of God. For us, it represents the disciplines hidden from public view. Our devotional prayer life, solitude and silence, fasting, and time reading the Bible on our own. Like the tree, we need not fear when the trials come. When they come and things get heated, we can rely on the ever-flowing streams of grace and mercy in the living water from our God. As the tree’s leaves always remain green, so our lives can always find refreshment in our devotional practices. Even in spiritually dry times, we can always bear fruit for the Lord.

This passage does not promise the absence of difficulty. What it promises is much more realistic. It acknowledges that times of testing and spiritual dryness will come, but promises us the ability to stand despite our outward circumstances. Even in these times, we can bear fruit for the Lord because God is our source and our provider. May we always seek to be like that tree planted by the river of God.

While our salvation is secure in Jesus’ death and resurrection. There are practices we can adopt to help us live a life fruitful for God’s kingdom. The first two go hand in hand. Daily prayer and scripture reading provide nourishment for our souls. Sabbath rest is very important. God rested one day out of seven, not because He needed to, but because it was good to do so. Regular worship with other believers strengthens our faith. Finally, obedience, even when it might be more convenient to lapse into sin, strengthens your walk with God. Let us pray for the courage and strength to live in this way so that we may be a blessing to others even as God blesses us.

Prayer:

Lord, we would be like the tree Jeremiah writes about here in his book. Deepen our faith and trust in you by the means you have spelled out in this passage. May we always seek your guidance and help as we walk through the various trials and tribulations that inevitably come our way in this world. May our lives be a living testimony to the goodness and faithfulness of You O Lord. Amen. 

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