Forever Fruitful

But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.

For they are transplanted 

to the Lord's own house. 

They flourish in the courts of our God.

Even in old age they will still produce fruit; 

they will remain vital and green.

Psalm 92:12-14 NLT

A sixty-year-old plum tree with gnarled, twisted trunk and branches stands alone in the back yard. Though aged and ugly, it still produces lovely soft white flowers in early spring. Its sweet fruit tastes exquisite in late July. This Santa Rosa plum makes the best juice ever to be desired.

A professional landscaper might decide the tree has seen its better days when he considers the unattractive, half-rotten trunk or the broken branches in desperate need of pruning. He might decide to replace the ancient tree with a straight, well-shaped seedling. But a pastoral artist would value the challenge to paint the scarred tree on canvas just as it is—old but beautiful and fruitful.

 

Whether we see ourselves as a young seedling full of fresh ideas and energy or as a weak, twisted tree needing loving attention, we can praise our Lord every morning and thank Him for another day to bear fruit and feed people in His Kingdom. He planned every day of our lives—the early years and the latter years.

The Lord is our light and salvation, the stronghold of our life (Psalm 27:1), no matter our age or physical condition. Like the fragrance of flowers on a fruit tree, we develop the fragrance of God when we plant our roots deep in His Word and desire to please the Lord with all our thoughts and actions.

~ Juanita