Roots Below, Fruit Above
Continuing with some thoughts on trees planted by water and reading through Isaiah at the moment, I came across this great verse.
Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. (Isaiah 37:31)
When you think of the remnant, think in terms of those who are not content to be a Christian in name alone, or be part of a particular tradition or culture, but those who are truly people of faith, true, radical disciples of Jesus Christ.
The point is that such a people of faith are those who are outwardly frutiful because they have sent down their roots deep below. We can only be as strong as our roots. And the point about roots is that they are usually hidden. One man of God once said that ‘what you are on your knees before God, that is what you are, no more.’
If we want to be fruitful in our life, then we need to attend to the ‘roots below.’ Spending time consistently in the presence of God, regularly feeding on his Word, training our thinking so that it lines up with what God says, guarding the attitudes of our heart, being careful of what we say even in private to ourselves, giving so that the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing, etc. It is getting things right in what the psalmists referred to as ‘the hidden place’ and Jesus referred to as ‘the secret place’ that will determine whether we will produce lasting fruit. Bill Hybels says that character is ‘who you are when no one is looking.’ That’s another way of saying character is determined by the roots below.
September 5th, 2005 @ 3:55 pm
Great blog Trevor! What you’ve said about character is very true and very important in these days. I share you love of RS Thomas - an excellent Welsh poet!
“We’ve nothing vast to offer you, no deserts
Except the waste of thought
Forming from mind erosion…”
A Welshman to any Tourist
September 5th, 2005 @ 4:16 pm
Hi Trevor - glad you’ve got a blog going now, I know I’m going to enjoy reading it each day, you’ve got a lot to say that needs to be said!
I find it’s always very tempting to pay more attention to the side people see of you than what’s unseen – but as you’ve pointed out we’re only as strong as our roots and the roots are the things that generally go unseen. This is something God’s been challenging me on a lot recently so I found this post very relevant!
September 5th, 2005 @ 6:05 pm
Trevor,
I’m glad that you have a blog up and running. I am from Brecon and I attend the Church in Merthyr.
I have added your address to my blog page.
God Bless,
Joe…
September 5th, 2005 @ 9:01 pm
Hi Trevor,
Great post. I like that Bill Hybels’ book too.
Thrilled to hear that you had started blogging!
Look forward to many more valuable insights from the word.
September 6th, 2005 @ 1:06 pm
Trev,
I love the biblical images of trees and what they represent, trees grow and bear fruit most effectively where they are well nourished, they are strong because there is as much below ground as above, they are all different shapes and sizes and have different characteristics, but they are all still trees.
“….I want to be a tree….”
September 8th, 2005 @ 7:20 am
Great blog Trev! It is challenging, and provoking. Thank You!