On Wednesday last week on my way to work, I read John 17. This chapter of John talks about Jesus. He prayed for all of us believers before we ever came to be. I appreciated that. I looked around me at the trees. I found my source of inspiration.
On the block walking to work, there are many trees. Each tree has its own individual look and story. As I captured the pictures of these trees, what I noticed is that each tree and its branches told a story. Some were bent, some were straight, some went to the right and some went to the left.
As I became engrossed in the nature of these trees, I realized that we are to be like those trees, planted by the living waters, rooted and grounded. Looking at the various shades of green and the distortion of the branches, I concluded that trees grow regardless of the storm. They may begin to look funny. Sometimes the branches become broken. They get all tangled up. Sometimes the tree loses a limb. But, when it’s all said and done, the trees grow in grace. They weather the storms, whether rain, sleet, hail, snow, cold, wind or heat. Whatever comes, they continue to grow. I also realized that trees are only replaced when they are dug up by the roots. I came to see even more how important our roots in God and His word have to be for us to be “like a tree, planted by the rivers of water.”
Psalm 1:3 – “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither.”
How cool is it to know that Jesus holds the rivers of water. That a tree is a real symbol of growing in grace. No matter what happens, the tree is still standing. Even when the weather may break the trunk, guess what? The tree will continue to grow until roots are pulled up. When you are nurtured by the Word of God, you have no choice but to grow in grace, like the tree planted by rivers of water.
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