A Multi-Fruited Tree

        

        Trees seem important to God. There was the Tree of Life, The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and The Tree of Salvation or Cross upon which Christ purchased humanity's redemption with His life.

        Speaking about life and trees, Jesus used an analogy in Matthew 7:17-20 to convey a message of lifestyle, mindset and attitude. He said, 

"...every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." 

        In Galatians 5:22-23 Paul encourages us to be a tree of many fruits. Joy is characterized as a wonderful fruit to bear in one's life, but he lists many more ingredients, characteristics or fruits that should flow from a believer's life. Remember our God is a God of abundance! Those other fruits God desires us to share with each other are love, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

        I believe the key to an excellent, fruit-producing, enjoyable, edifying tree and person is the Source of The Root System. Read what the Holy Spirit had David pen in Psalm 1:1-4 -

"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, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 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."

        Do you see the equation here? The one who guards the company he/she keeps and is completely enthralled with God's Word, turning it over and over in their mind during the day and night is like a Tree that is well nourished by Living Water producing its fruit at the proper time. The tree or person is also 
preserved by God which is shown in our spiritual, mental and physical attractiveness (leaf doesn't wither). Plus, God's favor is upon the life of the fruit bearing person or tree - "whatever they do prospers". 

        The pivotal point for the tree and person in being fruitful is proximity to the living water. The stream or water is called living not only because of the life-giving nutrients it provides but especially from whom the river flows - the Holy Spirit. John records Jesus speaking about this precious source of water - 

"Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'” - John 4:13-14

        Do your roots go to The River that never runs dry? What kind of tree are you? What kind of fruit do you produce? Does your life attract fruit lovers? Are you a tree of just one sort of fruit or are you A Multi-Fruited Tree?