Well Planted
“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” – Psalm 1:3
“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” – Psalm 1:3
Cleveland Select or Chanticleer may not mean anything to you, but to my wife and me, they are the names that identify the two ornamental pear trees gracing the front of our property. We have enjoyed having them in the front of our home, as they provide shade in the summertime, bring a pleasant fragrance and freshness to the air, and are also beautiful to look at.
Last winter, I pruned out some dead wood from the trees, with the hope that we could save the one that was not doing well. Along with that, I pruned both of them back, as they were beginning to lose their form. Much to our satisfaction, both trees survived the pruning process, and in the springtime they produced good foliage and abundant blossoms.
While the trees are called “ornamental” pear trees, as opposed to the varieties in our valley that produce edible fruit, they do produce a berry that is a delicacy to the birds in the fall of the year. It is only when the trees lose their leaves, however, that the berries are visible. In a day or two, the birds can strip the entire crop of berries from the trees.
As Christians, God “plants” us where we can be the most productive for Him. More than just a shade tree or an ornamental variety, we are expected to bring forth fruit in His season. For us, too, there will be times when our lives must be pruned of unnecessary elements that would compete with our fruit production. If we will submit to God’s pruning, our lives will not only produce fruit, but there will be freshness and a fragrance that will emanate from our character and conduct that will cause others to take note. And when the right time comes, the fruit in our lives can be harvested and used in God’s plan to further His kingdom.
As we delight in the law of the Lord and obey Him, we will be like that “tree planted by the rivers of water.” We will be a blessing to the Lord and to all those around us. Let us each strive to bring forth fruit for our Lord.