“But 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)
The prophet Jeremiah (640-587
B.C.) spoke these words to the people of Judah during a time when they had
forgotten past saving events. Their
deliverance from Egypt, the giving of the Ten Commandments, their wanderings in
the wilderness and their entrance into the promised land of Canaan were all but
gone from their memories. However,
within the sin and judgment that existed, God still offered hope for those who
would place their whole trust in Him.
It’s
no different today. The mental image
that Jeremiah paints is the picture a lush tree whose roots have driven deep
into the fertile soil by the stream. It
never has to concern itself with withering and dying for its source is
plentiful. So it is with us. If we drive deep into the word of God and
place our full and unwavering trust in Him, then we shall bear fruit and
prosper as well.
As we
look at Israel and their constant rebellion against God’s laws we should see
ourselves. Many times we act like a
horse that doesn’t want to be bridled.
We must let go of our unrealistic wants and desires and allow God to
have His way in our lives. Only then
will we reach our full potential and bear fruit for the kingdom. Until next time, walk with the King and be a
blessing!
