Deep Roots

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Are your roots deep? We have had some long seasons of heat and drought and it seems that many people have been bothered by such seasons. Jeremiah described those who trust in the Lord as blessed, equating them to trees planted along a riverbank with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees always stay green and never stop producing fruit. In the autumn months, the leaves change over from green to reds, yellows, and oranges; this happens because as the days get shorter, the trees have less sunlight to produce food so they begin to shut down. They stop producing chlorophyll and allow their leaves to die. During this process, the true color of the leaf is revealed. The green of a leaf covers over its original nature; the green color reveals that it is well-fed and healthy. When times are tough and food is short, as the leaf begins to die, its true colors are revealed. 

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (Galatians 5:22-23)

“Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.’” (John 4:14)

“On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, ‘Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, “Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)” (John 7:37-39)

During these times of heat and drought, it can quickly be revealed whether or not our roots go deep into the eternal waters of the Spirit. Would you say you have reacted with love, peace, patience, kindness, or gentleness towards those with whom you disagree? Have you seen or used much self-control? Has the fruit of the Spirit flourished in you or has the heat and drought revealed your true colors? If we are like trees planted along a riverbank, then we have an endless supply of water and our leaves will never dry up; our sinful nature does not have to come rising up in us. On January 30th, 1956, Marin Luther King Jr.'s house was bombed. Neither himself, his wife, nor his newly born child were injured. An angry mob of King’s supporters arrived at his house, ready to retaliate. In front of his burning house, Mr. King spoke these words: 

"We believe in law and order. Don't get panicky. Don't do anything panicky at all. Don't get your weapons. He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword. Remember that is what God said. We are not advocating violence. We want to love our enemies. I want you to love our enemies. Be good to them, love them and let them know you love them. I did not start this boycott. I was asked by you to serve as your spokesman. I want it to be known through the length and breadth of this land that if I am stopped this movement will not stop. For what we are doing is right. What we are doing is just. And God is with us."

In front of his burning house, Mr. King was not bothered by the heat. He did not let the long seasons of drought worry him. Like the river to the trees planted on the banks, the Holy Spirit is our endless supply of water. Our leaves will always be green because of it and we will not be bothered by the heat or worried by droughts. If your roots are shallow, your true color may still rise to the top when the drought comes and the heat is on, but if your roots are deep within the waters of the Holy Spirit, no matter the heat or the length of the drought, your leaves will remain green and you will never stop producing fruit.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed