The Fruitful Life

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; ² but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. ³ He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."

Psalm 1:1-3

God who created trees designed them to produce seeds contained in the fruit.  Seeds make the propagation of more trees possible, and in this way seeds are cultivated to grow an entire orchard.  Before a tree can fruit in season it must be well-established in suitable soil.  Time is required for the roots to tap into the moisture and nutrients so trees will grow and bear much fruit.

The man who is blessed is the one who is rooted by faith in God and His word.  The author of this Psalm did not only read the Law but meditated in it day and night.  The revelation of God, His truth and commands, guided David and all who look to God for wisdom, discernment and strength.  It was not like a book that we read occasionally but divine inspiration to immerse ourselves in.  The one who delights in God and His word will be most fruitful by God's gracious design.  The one who treasures God in truth will refuse ungodly counsel, will not stand with sinners, or settle into scornful ways.

Our tendency is to read a book and move on to the next one; we read one verse or chapter and close the book to do something else.  We cannot read perpetually, yet when the book is closed our hearts and minds ought to remain open to the probing, searching word that refines and directs us.  The word of God exposes our errors, points out the dead works from a guilty conscience and guides us what thoughts must be taken captive to the obedience of Christ.  God's word is not something to lay aside on the path to maturity, for without the Living Water applying Gospel truth to our ways all our efforts will be fruitless.

In sport the best players cannot neglect the fundamentals, the rudimentary skills common among every participant.  The star players are those who do the most basic things best with consistency.  A tree, with a desire to be more fruitful, cannot abandon the connection between roots and soil.  A believer, no matter how well-meaning the motives, cannot safely move on from the gospel to seek deeper truth and revelations beyond the word of God.  The men of Israel facing judgment for their sin were keen to know the word of the LORD, but since they would not obey Him in the basics of faith they were cut off and cast away as dead branches fit for the flame.

How good it is for God's people to realise it is our connection to Jesus Christ by faith that makes us fruitful, and wherever He plants us we can be established and grow.  It is not going to another church that will make all the difference for our walk, nor will our role in a fellowship be a hindrance to personal fruitfulness.  When we are born again and abide in Christ by faith marked by obedience to His word, we will bear much fruit.  Based on God's word, like a tree planted by rivers of water the ones who delights in God's law and meditates in it will bring forth fruit in season, our leaf shall not wither, and whatever we do shall prosper.  Believer, do you truly believe this?