These were my readings this weekend from Be Still and Know...
"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon." - Psalm 92:12
In my early married life we moved to California. As we travelled across California at night, I remember the thrill of rousing from my sleep and seeing palm trees silhouetted against the sky in the moonlight. I had seen many pictures of them but this was my first time view of a live palm tree. I still remember vividly my feeling of awe as I gazed at their stately beauty.
Someone has said, "The palm tree is God's portrait in nature of a Christian."
Certain characteristics of the palm tree picture the life and experience of a Christian. The palm tree stands above other trees, and is, by its nature, upright and stately. As Christians we are to manifest the righteousness and uprightness of God. "He that walketh uprightly walketh surely." (Proverbs 10;9) How tall are we spiritually?
The palm tree is a tree of special beauty; it is one of the most gracefully of trees. As Christians, our lives should reflect the beauty of Jesus Christ wherever we go. "And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us." (Psalm 90:17)
The psalmist said, "The righteous shall flourish." To flourish means to thrive, to prosper, to grow luxuriantly. We usually think conditions must be ideal for a luxuriant growth. However, the palm tree proves that this is not so. It grows in places not conducive to growth. They can grow in desert places where nothing else grows, providing oases for places of rest for travellers along the way. Where not much else grows we find the palm tree flourishing.
Christians can grow and flourish in the most trying conditions. Our present situation may not be ideal, but we can flourish there, for our Christian growth is not dependent on our environment but on the Lord.
The psalmist said, "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not whither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." (Psalm 1:3)
Does your life show that you are a "palm tree" Christian?
Yesterday we compared the Christian life to the palm tree. We considered its outward beauty as it flourishes. Today we will look at the inner characteristics of the tree which are an example of a Christian.
Most trees get their life through the sap that flows up the tree just under the bark. Not so with the palm tree. Its sap flows up the centre of the tree, producing new life from the heart of the tree.
The life of the Christian comes from the life of Christ implanted in the heart. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith." (Ephesians 3:17)
We discover the palm tree not only grows but flourishes in the most unlikely places. Why? Because it has a hidden source of nourishment. Although no water may be visible, the tree sends down a large tap root with other roots deep into the earth, appropriating nourishment from the soil and searching out hidden springs of water.
We have hidden springs of Living Water from which we can draw nourishment. "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water shall flow from the innermost being of anyone who believes in me. (He was speaking of the Holy Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in Him)" (John 7:37-39 LB).
The palm tree can withstand winds and hurricanes better than any other tree, not because of greater resistance, but because they bend and yield. When the winds and storms beat upon our lives, we, too, can withstand their fury, as we bend and yield, submissive to God, allowing Him to bring good into our lives from them.
Many lives have been saved by finding water near the Palm trees. God wants your life and mine to be the means of bringing others to the Water of Life.
When our lives are nourished at His hidden springs, they can flourish like the palm tree, displaying His beauty and uprightness. We will be able to live victoriously above our circumstances.
Lovely analogy for sure!
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