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.

Self-Assessment

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”   Philippians 3: 12 – 14.

In this text Paul is used as an example of a person who engaged in self-assessment, that is, he looked in the mirror of reality and saw himself as he was. He admitted he had not already attained nor was he already perfect.

A personal assessment is appropriate at this point. Are you willing to engage in such personal evaluation? In the same breath that he admits imperfection he expresses a desire to continue growing by using the term “already.” This implies a desire to continue development. Follow his example, don’t give up, grow up.

His further self-assessment is evidenced by the honest admission “I do not count myself to have apprehended.” The expression means, “I am not a know it all,” there is room for improvement. Thank God for any achievement, accomplishment, or academic attainment. Just remember others have such a dossier of their own and there is room for you to grow. The text means I am not there yet, but I aspire to develop further spiritually.

Two ideals are expressed that should typify us. He said “I press on,” and  “reaching forward.” Then there is this purposeful power packed statement, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” The term “press” means to extend the effort. Every believer should live a pressing spiritual life. To use a crude colloquialism, “get after it.” Work at continuing to grow in the faith. Put in the memory storehouse today what you may need to know tomorrow.

Most conscientious Christians will admit:

Past failure, that is, they have not reached the goal God has set for them,

Dissatisfaction to remain at their present spiritual level. Those who feel they have arrived – cease growing.

Don’t be a wasp Christian. A wasp is as big as it ever will be the day it is born. Don’t live a life of arrested spiritual growth. Unfortunately there are Christians who fail to grow.

Be an alligator Christian. An alligator continues to grow right up until the day it dies.

Admitting that should be motivation to increase a personal growth development program. Study the Word, memorize parts, meditate on passages, practice what you learn to do, and engage in empowering prayer. Grow on.

A Purposeful Pursuit

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” Colossians 3: 14.

Keep on keeping on is a good standard for Christian growth. The expression “I press” means to earnestly pursue after.

The finish line is perfection.  This is not a sprint, a quick burst of brisk energy.  It is a marathon.  “Run with patience” (Hebrews 12:1).

The author of a book entitled “Finishing Strong” offers this studied conclusion. Of those who start out strong in the Christian experience only one out of ten finishes strong at the age of retirement.  Commit yourself to being that one.

The purpose of this pursuit is expressed as “That I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended.”  There was purpose in this pursuit.  We are to live out our purpose.  To apprehend means “to seize and take possession of.”

We use the word “apprehended” to speak of law enforcement officials catching a person.  Jesus literally arrests us in salvation.

In another state on another day law enforcement officials put out an all points bulletin showing the three dimensions of a wanted person. It showed a left and right profile and a straight ahead likeness.

Soon they got a reply from a Barney Fife type law enforcement official in another state reading: “We caught the one on the left and the one on the right and have a good lead on the one in the middle.”

Jesus knows your I.D. and in love He wants to apprehend you for your good.

The verb tense speaks of a specific time in which this happened. The moment of transformation in life is when we faithfully and wholeheartedly trust Jesus as Savior. Paul left Jerusalem as emissary of the high priest. He entered Damascus as a servant of the Lord Jesus.

Christ wants to “lay hold on” you not just to forgive you, but to give you a new character, a new nature.

God used certain things to apprehend Paul.  Paul was appointed by the Sanhedrin to investigate the resurrection.  He concluded, “If Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain.”  Initially he heard those he sought to intimidate say, “We ought to obey God rather than man.”  He watched as Stephen was stoned in triumph.  The final factor was when Ananias, one of those he was hunting, put his hand on his shoulder and called him “Brother.”

Paul wanted to “lay hold on” that for which he was “laid hold of.” It was…

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death”  (Philippians 3:10).

It was to be more like Jesus. That simply stated should be our aspiration.

One Thing at a Time

“I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3: 13, 14.

One thing possessed Paul.  He avoided all diversion. Athletes are often heard to say, “I have to stay focused.” Undivided and un-diverted attention to the task at hand is essential for success.

At Jesus’ feet Martha criticized Mary.  Of her He said, “One thing is needful” (Luke 10:42).

Nehemiah, the wall-building governor, replied to distracting invitations, “I am doing a great work so that I cannot come down!” (Nehemiah 6:3).

Caution, “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8).

“One thing” is the inspiring unspoken theme running through every achieving life. We are not to limp between two opinions. We must learn to say both “yes” and “no.” Yes, to the things of Christ and no to the things of the world. Concentration is essential.

Jim Egan worked at the West Coast Computer Fair in 1977. His job was to help displayers by providing booths and decorations.

Egan was approached by a couple of long-haired kids who wanted some chrome displays to make their booth “look flashy.”  These guys were evidently under-capitalized entrepreneurs. Egan offered to rent them what they wanted. They explained they were low on cash but offered him stock in their new company of which he had never heard. Having such brash young men come and go, Egan said he would accept only hard cash. So Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs kept their stock in their small company they called Apple Computer. Presumably, Jim Egan is still decorating booths for hard cash only.

One thing should motivate us above all else. As one who delights to travel in the Bible Land I try to be observant. Shepherds and their dogs can teach us much. As Christians we should be like sheep dogs. When a shepherd is in the process of giving a command the dog lies down at the shepherd’s feet and looks intently into the shepherd’s eyes.  The dog listens without moving until the command is given. When the dog knows the mind of the master he jumps to his feet to carry out the command. There is another characteristic of the sheep dog. He never stops wagging his tail at any moment. He delights to hear and do his master’s will. So must we.

Keep your eyes on Jesus and delight to happily do His will. This results in a contented productive life.

Forget It

“…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead…” Philippians 3: 13.

In considering this theme it is not as though the past counts for nothing. Rather this is a statement about the overall outlook of life. On balance, the future is more important in our thinking than the past. This is not instruction to purge the mind of all memories of the past. It is an appeal to not live in the past, but contrast its insignificance with the present/future. This is not advising a memory wipe; it is telling us to focus on the present and the future, rather than the past. Don’t let the past hang over you like a shroud.

We must refuse to allow past successes to inflate our ego. We must not allow past failures to deflate our self-worth. We leave it behind and instead adopt our new identity in Christ. Focus instead on the “upward calling.”

A runner who leads in a race must concentrate on what is before, not the competitors and distance behind.  Paul had balance.  He remembered the good (Philippians 1:3) and put behind him that which would hinder. Remember “The load of tomorrow added to that of yesterday, and carried today, makes the strongest falter.”

A distance runner never considers the laps run, only what is ahead. That must be our preoccupation. Keep focused on what is yet to be done and do it.

In overcoming the hurdles in our lives we need to consider Olympic hurdlers. They do not allow themselves a split second to think of a hurdle they just knocked over, they focus on the next one to jump. We must divert our attention from past failures and direct it to the next challenge. The past can motivate us in our approach to the next, but it must not retain our attention.

Paul had been cleared by the courts of heaven and though he didn’t forget the lessons learned, he did not dwell on the past.  We break the power of the past by living in the present for the good of the future. Time flows from the future to the present and very fast into the past, therefore use it wisely.

In putting aside any bond to the past we are to press toward, that is, fulfilling our role regarding the “high calling.” It is God’s calling of us to Himself and our optimum in service.

An athletic metaphor is used in the text to emphasize the extent of pressing. It depicts an athlete approaching the finishing line. The image is of the runner engaging in all “stretchoutedness.” He leans forward, every muscle is tense, his nostrils are strutted begging for air, and his eyes are on the prize. It means to go all out in every effort to please the Lord.

Now, forget anything in your past, good or bad, the memory of which keeps you from pressing on for the Lord in the future.