If a potted plant ends up in my home, it better have hospice on speed dial. Keeping those things alive is a real struggle for me. While I was watering one a student gave me a while back (it’s miraculously still hanging on), I started considering the differences between my cute, but fragile, potted plant and our citrus tree firmly rooted in our backyard. I was struck by how many parallels there are between plant growth and spiritual maturity.
Consider the houseplant:
· It needs constant care and must be “spoon fed” its nutrients.
· Its growth is limited by the size of the pot it’s placed in.
· It can be relocated with very little effort – it isn’t firmly rooted.
· It is valued more for its appearance than for its purpose.
· It will bear very little fruit, if any at all.
Consider the tree “planted by water”
· It thrives with direct, continual access to nutrients, sun, and water.
· It grows strong and steady, reaching its full potential over time.
· It is firmly rooted and cannot be moved.
· It provides shade for the worn and weary
· It bears fruit that is beneficial to others
Scripture tells us that trees planted by streams of water will thrive in all they do. So how do we become like that tree? By delighting and meditating in the law of the Lord. When His word becomes our joy and focus, it naturally shapes the way we live – roots stretching deep beneath the earth, branches extending up to the sky, and fruit that provides necessary shade and nourishment for those around us.
If you happen to find yourself stuck on the “kitchen counter,” it’s never too late to be replanted. God specializes in fresh starts and new soil.
Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
Psalm 1:1-6