November 03, 2021: Are We Living a Life Like a Tree That Is Planted by Water? Or Do We Need Pruning?

Psalm One is a great psalm that highlights what the life of a Christian should be like: We are blessed if we do not walk in step with the wicked...We are blessed if we do not stand in the way that sinners take...and we are blessed if we do not sit in the company of mockers.

But the psalmist goes on to say that if we delight in the law of the Lord, and if we meditate on His law day and night, we will be "Like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, and whose leaf does not wither, and whatever we do, we will prosper." What a great promise from God for those who delight in Him.

Psalm 1: 1-3

Blessed is the one

who does not walk in step with the wicked,

or stand in the way that sinners take

or sit in the company of mockers,

2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

and who meditates on his law, day and night.

3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

whatever they do prospers.

So, the question comes down to this...Are we like a tree planted by the streams of water? Do our roots go down deep into the soil of God's word? Do we delight and meditate in His word day and night? It takes great discipline and dedication to be a person such as the psalmist speaks about, but the rewards are so great if we do.

On the other hand, if we choose to live a life of "self-indulgence", and chase after the things of the world, our life will be a life of uncertainty and of great heartache. The only way we can become a man or woman after God's heart, is first recognize that we, ourselves, cannot do it. It must be done by the power of the Holy Spirit living within us. We must come to "absolute surrender", complete emptiness of ourselves before God, so that He can fill us with the desires of His Word we truly seek.

PERSONNAL COMMENT:

Let us choose to live a life of "surrender" before God, so that we can be like that tree that is planted by the streams of waters, always refreshed, never thirsty. Let us not live a life that needs to be pruned by God constantly because of our wrongful behavior. Let us come to rest in Him and receive His blessings He desires to give us.