Deep Roots, Good Fruits
“….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” Jeremiah 17:7-8.
This verse drives home the importance of trusting in the Lord and finding confidence in Him. When our roots are planted in Jesus, we will not be shaken by difficult circumstances. Instead, we will remain strong and fruitful, even when faced with challenges and trials.
In Scripture roots are a symbol of stability, strength, and nourishment. In the Bible, they carry significant spiritual and metaphorical meanings.
A description of ancient Israel frames the theme of this Post perfectly:
“Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above” (Isaiah 37: 31). The analogy likening productive lives to the agricultural principles of deep roots producing good fruits shows the logic in being rooted in your faith in order to bear spiritual fruit.
A productive spiritual life is impossible without being rooted in Jesus. “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6-7).
Illustrative of the consequence of not being deep rooted is what the sun does to an improperly rooted plant. “But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root” (Matthew 13:6).
Romans 11:16 “… if the root is holy, so are the branches” describes the correlation between deep roots and good fruits.
An elemental observation reveals plants need nourishment to thrive. We are indebted to Billy Graham for identifying one of the essential supplements: “The Word of God is the nourishment our souls need to thrive and bear fruit.”
It takes time to study the Word of God to know right from wrong, good from evil. Devote yourself to the study of Scripture. Then dedicate yourself to fulfilling that devotion.
Commit to trusting in the Lord, rooting ourselves in His Word, and flourishing in faith despite life’s challenges. Such is essential in order to stand firm in the faith, producing fruit that glorifies God even in the hour of personal drought.