Growing Strong and Straight
God gives us a lot of analogies in His Word to help us grasp His truth. This morning I read Psalm 92:12 again, and I could see the word picture just as clearly as the first time I noticed it. The psalmist was inspired by God to tell us that a righteous person will grow like a palm tree and a cedar tree. This is a great picture if you stop to think about it.
Palm trees were designed by God to grow in places that have hurricanes and other harsh weather conditions. They have deep, strong roots and bark that is like armor. They are tall and flexible. Therefore, when the wind and rain come, they stand strong. They may get bent over to the ground by the wind for a while, but they spring back up. Nothing can crack through their armor, so they dwell secure as God designed them, living for years in the sunshine and the rain.
Cedar trees grow very straight. Their wood is amazingly strong. It doesn't rot like other wood. Therefore, when people need to build something straight that will last, they use cedar. In Texas the ranchers use the cedar posts for their barbed wire fences. Then, they don't have to change them out for many years, and they are so straight.
As believers God leads us to plant our roots deep into His Word and to put on His Spiritual Armor, so we are ready for any storm of life. If we grow strong as He directs us to, we will not come crashing down with every trial of life. We will trust Him and endure, even flourish like a palm tree. He designed us to be straight and true. We follow His Word, so that our lives show others His righteousness by how we live straight, strong lives for Him like a cedar tree.
God's design is for believers to bear fruit for many years, even in old age like a palm tree. Also, we don't wear out spiritually as we age, but we remain strong and true to Him. I hope we all can meditate on this analogy today, and let God speak to us in many personal ways to apply it to our lives.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 94-97.
Palm trees were designed by God to grow in places that have hurricanes and other harsh weather conditions. They have deep, strong roots and bark that is like armor. They are tall and flexible. Therefore, when the wind and rain come, they stand strong. They may get bent over to the ground by the wind for a while, but they spring back up. Nothing can crack through their armor, so they dwell secure as God designed them, living for years in the sunshine and the rain.
Cedar trees grow very straight. Their wood is amazingly strong. It doesn't rot like other wood. Therefore, when people need to build something straight that will last, they use cedar. In Texas the ranchers use the cedar posts for their barbed wire fences. Then, they don't have to change them out for many years, and they are so straight.
As believers God leads us to plant our roots deep into His Word and to put on His Spiritual Armor, so we are ready for any storm of life. If we grow strong as He directs us to, we will not come crashing down with every trial of life. We will trust Him and endure, even flourish like a palm tree. He designed us to be straight and true. We follow His Word, so that our lives show others His righteousness by how we live straight, strong lives for Him like a cedar tree.
God's design is for believers to bear fruit for many years, even in old age like a palm tree. Also, we don't wear out spiritually as we age, but we remain strong and true to Him. I hope we all can meditate on this analogy today, and let God speak to us in many personal ways to apply it to our lives.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 94-97.