THE VERSE
They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
~Psalm 92:14-15
THE THOUGHT
Throughout Scripture, God’s faithful and blessed people are described as trees planted by streams of water who never fail to bear fruit. Psalm 1 tells us that the truly blessed man is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and that such a man “is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.” Jeremiah 17 says that the blessed man is he who trusts in the Lord, and that he too “is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes… it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jesus picked up on this imagery when He told His disciples, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.”
So why does God want us to be that kind of people? What is it about being a tree planted by streams of water that causes God to keep repeating this? Psalm 92 gives us the reason: the righteous “flourish like the palm tree… planted in the house of the LORD” bearing fruit even to old age, “TO DECLARE that the Lord is upright.”
God has called us to be like trees planted by streams of water, in order that our lives might declare His character to a watching world. God means for His glory to shine brightly from lives that still produce fruit for Him even when surrounded by the world’s spiritual drought. This is precisely what Psalm 92 says- “they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright,” and it’s precisely what Jesus said in John 15: “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
THE PRAYER
Dear God, My heart’s desires need a complete renovation. I care so little for Your glory, even though making much of You is what I was made for, and is where fullness of joy is found. Free me from the insignificant idols that my heart clings to, and make me yearn for the life of a well-watered tree, bearing fruit in all seasons, for Your glory, to declare that You are upright, that You are my rock, and that there is no unrighteousness in You. Let my life be a living testament to that truth.
EXTENDED READING
Psalm 1:1-3
Psalm 92:12-15
Jeremiah 17:7-8
John 15:1-8
Galatians 5:22-23
THE QUOTE
“If you are involved in Christian service only when you feel like doing it, you haven’t learned the kind of service that Paul described.” ~John MacArthur
ABOUT THIS POST
This post is the first of more “daily verses” to come. We hope these posts will encourage you to read and treasure God’s Word.
It was written by Brendan Beale, author of Cross Connections