Like a Tree

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Psalm 1:3

Now that spring is coming around, I see the trees starting to bud and the earth coming back to life.  It makes me think of my Christian walk in that I can be encouraged by this short Psalm.  It mentions yielding it's fruit in season.  Well, the Bible says that we need to be ready in season and OUT of season to preach the Word of God.

"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction." 2 Timothy 2:4

Doing God's will might be likened to bearing fruit.  Now that can look like a lot of different things according to each person's ability but it always includes preaching the same Gospel that Yahshua taught.  If we do otherwise or preach another gospel or even another Christ, then that is like preaching no Gospel at all!

"another Jesus whom we have not preached… or a different gospel" (2 Corinthians 11:1–4).

So the Psalm mentions producing fruit in season but the leaves do not wither.  That makes me think of the life water within us, that would be likened to Yah's set apart spirit.  He gave this same spirit without measure to Yahshua who began pouring it out on fellow believers at Pentecost, (read the book of Acts).  This is what keeps us alive spiritually and empowered to continue doing what our Heavenly Father desires.  He wants no one to be lost so our bearing fruit and having leaves that do not wither means being very active in preaching the Gospel to all who will hear.

Be Prepared

Lazy summer days! Oh how tempting it is to take off from the ministry and relax as you see my guitar doing here. Still, we are told to be prepared to minster in season and out of season:

"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction." 2 Timothy 4:2

It is pretty obvious that Satan doesn't take a vacation from evil so how can we ever abandon doing good? Now I'm not talking about taking a well needed rest. Yeshua and his disciples often did that but even so they did not take their eyes off the most important thing....preaching the Word of God. Even while resting at the well, Yeshua reached out to a Samaritan woman with the offer of life everlasting.

Whoever drinks this water will get thirsty again;
But anyone who drinks the water that I shall give
will never be thirsty again:
The water that I shall give
will turn into a spring inside welling up to eternal life. John 4:13

As tired and thirsty as he was, he cared enough to extend himself just a little bit more. The result? Not only did the Samaritan woman believe but so did the others living in her community. They relied not on her testimony, but came out themselves to see if Yeshua was indeed the Messiah. This is such a great example for today when many are tempted to self indulge or "take it easy". We can ask Yah and His Son Yeshua for eyes to see opportunities to bless and spread the Gospel message with those who are thirsting no matter if in good season or bad.