Psalm 1:1-4 - Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. 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. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Some artists create still-life paintings in a style called trompe l'oeil, French for "fool the eye." Such paintings show fruit or flowers with life-like realism, so real we want to pluck them from the canvas. The pictures are beautiful, but the fruit and flowers, in reality, are lifeless and flat. In holy Scripture, God paints realistic word-pictures to teach us about His kingdom and life in Christ, stories of a tiny mustard seed, fields ripe for harvest, scattered seed, a vine and branches, and growing fruit. There is nothing lifeless about the lessons of His Word.
When trees and vines and seeds are planted, the farmer tends the planting, making sure the plants have rich soil, sunlight, and water. He carefully prunes and shapes the plants. With strong roots and watchful care, well-tended plants and trees produce fruit or grain. It is what they are and what they do. As Jesus says in a parable about the kingdom of God, the farmer scatters seed "and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear" (Mark 4:27b-28).
We may or may not enjoy gardening, but Scripture directs our attention to these plantings to teach us about our Lord and His kingdom. Jesus is the living Branch that grew from the splintered stump of King David's family tree, the Savior who was nailed to the tree of the cross to atone for our sins. By faith, we live in Jesus, "rooted and built up in Him" (Colossians 2:7a). He is the true Vine, and we are the branches. Apart from Him, cut off from a life of faith in Him, we cannot bear fruit. We are sustained by His grace and love, rooted deeply in the living and active Word of God. We are refreshed and renewed by the living water of the Holy Spirit and nourished by Jesus' body and blood in His holy Supper. We are carefully tended—and sometimes pruned!—by our Heavenly Father. Alive and growing, we bear the fruit of love and good works. It is who we are and what we do. Each of us "is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season." Together we are an orchard covering the earth for Christ, and our fruit never goes out of season.
WE PRAY: Dear Savior, keep me rooted in Your grace and growing through the study of Your Word so that I may bear fruit to glorify our Heavenly Father. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. How would you characterize a wicked person? A godly person?
2. What did Jesus have to say about water and those who trust in God? (See John 4:13-14, 7:38.)
3. How is the Holy Spirit's work in our lives similar to what a plant experiences when watered?
Today's Bible Readings: Exodus 9-11 Matthew 25:31-46
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