Psalms 1:3 ESV  He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESV  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.  (8)  He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

When I worked at a former institution, I was privileged to have an office in a mansion built in the early 1900s. Thirteen unique fireplaces filled the rooms. Surrounding the building were large and stately oaks with Spanish moss hanging from their limbs. It was truly an inspiring sight to behold.

In Palestine during the days of the Patriarchs trees were especially important. They were a source of shade, as when Abraham met with visitors under its shade, and they were a source of fruit. Just as trees need nourishment and water, so we need these as well.

A tree planted by streams of water would have all the nourishment necessary to flourish. It need not face the withering associated with a barren wilderness without resources to sustain it. Those who trust in the Lord have all they need, not only to survive, but to thrive.

I think of Jesus telling his disciples that if they would seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, they would find the necessities of life, such as food and clothing, provided. A tree, under such conditions, need never fear a lack, and disciples who trust need never fear they will be forsaken.

A tree planted or rooted firmly in the ground speaks volumes about the stability one would expect of such a tree. Paul tells the Ephesian believers that they should allow God’s plan for the edification of the church to prepare them to become mature:

Ephesians 4:14-15 ESV  so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.  (15)  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

Although the type of fruit is not identified in the psalm, when Jesus spoke of himself as the vine and his followers as the branches, he alludes to two types of fruit, as elsewhere. The first is the fruit of a life of righteousness (a life right with God) and the fruit of adding more disciples who will become followers.

My dad loved farming. He delighted in planting, cultivating, and harvesting various crops. He never had much appreciation for plants that existed to add beauty to a scene. He worked because he wanted to produce fruit for his labors, and he EXPECTED fruit. Just like Jesus, who cursed the fig tree for lack of fruit and it withered, he would curse and plow under plants that were barren or fruitless. A tree planted by streams of water that receives the nourishment needed to bear fruit has no excuse to remain barren. It will bear fruit. And so the question presents itself:

Are you a disciple nourished by the Word of God? The evidence will be FRUIT!