Friday, August 19, 2011

Be Like a Tree

“Blessed is the man…his delight is in the law of the LORD…He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3

We have several trees around our home. While there are nine trees in the main part of our yard, the number of trees along the back of our yard are too numerous to count. Those trees behind our fence line are part of a large group of trees that are growing along the banks of the creek that runs by our house. All of these trees flourish where they are planted because of the source of water that they are so close to. They prosper and grow providing a home for many birds and other critters and giving us a beautiful view.

In today’s text, the psalmist is talking about a man who is blessed. He describes him as someone who “walks not in the counsel of the wicked.” Rather, “his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” To explain his point he uses the visualization of trees planted by water.

It’s an easy visualization for us to see, isn’t it? Even in the desert, where do you see trees? Along any water that may run through the area. Trees grow roots that reach deep into the ground to draw out the water that they need for life. They rely on this water and thrive when they are planted in an area that has a rich source of water to draw from.

We are blessed when we plant ourselves in the streams of living water. God’s Word is not just there for use on Sunday mornings at church. We want to have God’s Word be surrounding us on every side so that we can soak up the rich nutrients that it has for us.

As parents we plant ourselves and our family’s as close to this stream as we can get. Like this man in our Psalm that is blessed, we want to “delight in the law of the LORD.” When we do this, God provides for us in ways that we can’t imagine. In all we do, we will prosper. Does this mean that we will live a luxurious life with all the material processions we could ever dream of? No, but it does mean that when we meditate on God’s Word day and night and delight in God’s law, He will bring us through and hold us up in all that life will bring to us.

I encourage you my friends to be like a tree, and lead your family to be like trees, planted by streams of water. Set your roots in the Word of God and grow and prosper where you are planted.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your Word. Help us Lord to root ourselves in Your Word and to daily grow in it. We pray this in Jesus name, Amen.

1 comment:

  1. Ah, Tamara! Refreshment for my soul! Thank you for this beautiful reminder to delight continually in God's Word! Rooted deeply... Wonderful writing, my friend!

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