Monday, November 07, 2016
Fruit in Season: Part One
After attending Deeply Rooted, I was eager to come home and start journaling through the Psalms {as we were challenged} and look for God's character.
Beginning in Psalm 1, there was a group of words that really jumped out at me and I wanted to process more of what it meant and looks like in our daily lives.
You can read all of Psalm 3 here. But I want to specifically look at verse 3, "He is like a tree, planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in season, and its leaf does not wither."
First of all, who is he? Who does this apply to? Verses 1-2 tell us that it 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."
Ok, so it applies to one who has responded to and follows God. Next, we are given a simile - when something is likened to something else to give us a visual picture.
:: Like a tree: how would I describe a tree? Provides shade, beauty, a picture of growth and life, can provide nourishment, resting place for people and small animals.
:: Planted by streams of water: the roots are secure and deep and well-watered. The tree is receiving the nourishment it needs. The water is bubbling music nearby and is a joy and delight to the tree.
:: That yields its fruit in season: this is the part that stood out to me most of all. A tree does not yield fruit all day, every day for all time. It would die. A tree naturally goes through seasons:
- grow/bud/bloom
- grow/nurture fruit/provide shade
- bear fruit; change color
- rest; season of waiting and dormancy
It hit me so powerfully that the tree bears fruit in season. Just like trees, I think we go through seasons of preparation, work in producing, bearing fruit and needing rest.
I find this so refreshing and challenging in a good way. The tree is always living out what God created it to do and is beautiful in so many ways through the seasons. But I find great comfort in the fact that not every moment of every season will be fore producing a harvest. That is always the goal of the tree and it doesn't give up on that but it needs to rest and be rejuvenated to stay healthy.
So often I think we want to do big fruit-producing things for God for that is where we see results. Yet I think that faithfulness in small is so valuable too. The tree is still valuable to God even in its non-fruit-bearing seasons and so are we.
It is important to mention that we can bear fruit in our spirit all the time in the ways of our character and the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
:: Its leaf does not wither: Well, I don't know about you, but sometimes I do feel like I am withering. This has to mean that I am not allowing myself seasons of growth, preparation, harvest and rest.
All of this sounds great, but how do I live this out in my heart/life? Come back Friday for Part 2! I'll only be posting MWF this week!
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3 comments:
From the perspective of a very task-oriented person, it was enlightening to discover that God desires seasons for us, as well. How well our lives parallel the four season in God's natural creation. Thank you for sharing this slant as you read through the Psalms. The Word never fails to offer new-found wisdom.
Although I was unable to join you, I'm thankful for the postcards you are sharing from the deeply rooted retreat.
Just an FYI--your link is for Psalm 3, but the verse is from chapter 1, verse 3.
The needlework looks like a relaxing piece. The only needlework that I have ever done is crosstitch, but this looks like embroidery. Do you follow a certain pattern of stitching or just go with the flow?
good insights!
That's great that you're journaling through the Psalms, and looking for His character/attributes as you do. I've been doing that throughout the summer and began the school year doing it with my children, as well.
That is one of my favorite passages in the whole Bible, and I'm thankful for the thoughts you've shared here, particularly about a tree not bearing fruit in EVERY season.
Blessings to you and yours,
~Stacy
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