A fruit-bearing Life!

We carried out some extensive maintenance works around the house, because of which we had to move some plants around and re-plant them.  It is a joy to see the plants come to life and produce new leaves after being re-planted.  The leaves do not appear immediately.  The plant has to develop roots below the ground, and only then leaves appear!  Remember, always roots before shoots!  In Psalm 1, when the Psalmist describes the life of a blessed person, he says, "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season.." (Psalm 1:3)  Being like a fruitful tree is, of course, a metaphor, a picture, but what does this picture teach us?

A tree shows maturity, for it takes time for a tree to grow.  A tree portrays stability and strength.  A tree standing tall means it has weathered many storms in its life.  Usually, a tree not only provides shade but it also provides a place of rest for the birds!  In this Psalm, the life of a blessed person is compared to a tree yielding fruit in its season.  To receive this blessing, one should not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, stand in the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful.  ​​But he should delight in the law of the LORD and meditate upon it day and night (Psalm1:1-2).  This Psalm not only brings out what such a person does not do but draws our attention to what he does do.  A blessed person delights to read the Bible and meditates upon it constantly!  Only a person who delights in God's presence would have the heart to be obedient to the Word because disobedience separates us from God.  We all love blessings from God, and that's why the Psalmist points us to the sure way of receiving such a blessed and fruitful life!

My friend, to have a life blessed by God, we not only must avoid sinful lifestyles but develop a love for the Word and allow the Word to transform us.  Otherwise, just as Jesus pointed out, the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other worldly things will choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful (Mark 4:19).  Life cannot be fruitful without being transformed!  Let us put God’s Word first and be filled with it so that our lives will be bearing fruit for the Lord!

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