Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – November 9, 2017
By Tripp Prince
Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. 2 Kings 19:30 (NIV)
For a tree to be healthy and bear much fruit, the root system that is unseen is just as important as what can be seen above ground. Roots must grow deep and anchor the tree in nutrient rich soil, quite literally laying the groundwork for the fruit that is to come. This is true of the plant kingdom, and it is also true of the spiritual life.
The mistake we often make is attending to one or the other, seeking either a healthy internal and private life with God, or engaging fully in active love and care for others with little attention to our personal spiritual health. Rather than this “either/or” approach, it is essential that you and I embrace a “both/and” spirituality.
We must be women and men who, like the remnants in Judah, take root below. In times of cultural change and division, when society seems to be fracturing and splintering in countless ways, we must like the ancient people of God learn to root ourselves in God. We must seek to find our rest, identity, and hope in the Lord so that we can stand firm when storms come our way. Rootedness in Christ is needed for when times are tough and we are pressed to the brink, feeling overwhelmed by anxiety or fear.
Fruit bearing as Christians is an invitation to bear fruit even when the conditions are averse and unfavorable. Like a fruit tree bursting with life in the midst of a drought, we are invited to live as light in the darkness, bringing hope where there is despair, love where there is hatred, and life where there is death. If we neglect the root systems of our faith, we will be unprepared and unable to meet the needs of our broken world. We will lack the strength and fortitude to join Christ on his great mission of healing and redemption.
And so, be the kind of Christian that longs to bear great fruit for God’s kingdom. Yearn for this and actively pursue it. But also intentionally attend to the depth of your roots. Have you developed the virtue needed to bear fruit in any circumstance? Have you spent time in private prayer and devotion with the Lord so that your public life can be sustained and fruitful for the whole of your life?
God invites us to join him in his restorative mission. May we take deep root below so that we can bear great fruit above!
Prayer
Father, help us to be rooted and grounded in your love so that we can share that love with a world in need. Amen.Application
Have you attended to both your private and public walk with the Lord? Is there an imbalance or neglect that you need to correct?Related Reading
1 Corinthians 13:7; Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 2:7Post/Tweet today
Rootedness in Christ is needed for when times are tough, feeling overwhelmed by anxiety or fear. #WisdomHunters #roots&fruitWorship Resource
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That was a great lesson sometimes on this website you get devotionals that seem like someone is preaching to you this one was more like someone was talking to a friend and together we’re walking through this thank you.
Dear Klay,
We are so thankful that you were blessed by “Roots Below, Fruit Above”. This was a great reminder to “be the kind of Christian that longs to bear great fruit for God’s kingdom. Yearn for this and actively pursue it. But also intentionally attend to the depth of your roots.”
What a call to action to honestly “tend to our roots” through prayer and sweet relations with our Savior.
Thank you , Klay, for taking the time to reach out to us. During this season of Thanksgiving, all of us at Wisdom Hunters would like you to know how grateful we are for our Wisdom Hunter’s family of readers.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Gwynne