Blessed are those whose roots bear fruits!

One of the great takeaways I had from last week's Radicalis webcast was when Rick Warren shared the story about the tree which graces his book, The Purpose Driven Life.  It drew me to the text in Jeremiah which illustrates Pastor Warren's whole point.  When we are rooted (that is to say deep rooted, near the source of what we need to survive) the tree thrives.  When the tree has deep roots, it can produce great fruits.

This tree in Texas obviously has the roots!  Yet when it comes to living lives of faith, how many people think they can do whatever they want?  They feel and then act on every impulse that drives them, not even remotely concerned they might be in dangerous territory.  They ignore any call to be obedient and replace that with a call to whatever.  They might be searching for a good, comfortable place, but if we look to the tree analogy, they will not be able to set deep roots in contaminated soil!

What troubles me is the opposing thought to "roots bear fruits" as Pastor Warren suggested.  How many people, how many churches, how many denominations miss this point completely?  If we are to be obedient, according to Jeremiah, we would put our trust in the Lord and make the Lord our hope and confidence.  Then, we have what we need.  Complete safety, deep roots, the nourishment of water and soil from deep roots, and we'd be pretty much able to withstand anything life might toss at us.  These deep roots allow us to thrive!

Without the roots of obedience, trust, hope, and the willingness to let God be the controlling factor in our lives of service to our neighbor in God's name, how can there be fruit?  How can we have results when there is not a deeply rooted trust in God?  Jeremiah reminds us those who ignore God are like stunted shrubs in the desert.

There is a calling to a place of safety and serenity.  There is a place to set down deep roots near the source of everything good.  It takes some wisdom discerning the difference, but the results are amazing!

"But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.  They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.  Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.  Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit."  Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT