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The Beautiful Green Tree

by Jerry Ousley  
8/28/2015 / Christian Living

There's a tree a few miles from where we live. Nearly every time we drive down that particular road and pass that tree Deb and I make a comment on it. It is one of the most perfect trees I've ever seen. A big tree of some sort (I suppose I should make a point of finding out just what kind of tree it is); it spreads its branches out, long and wonderfully shaped. It reminds me of one of those African plains trees; you know; the ones that stand right out in the middle of nowhere and are big, bushy, tall and magnificent.

It's the kind of tree you could practically build a home in, much like the tree house of Tarzan. When you watch those old black and white movies it seems they practically have an entire home up there with rooms and everything.

Trees like that provide a haven for a variety of wildlife. They are a shelter when the storms come; they provide food, a place to escape the beating down heat and it seems the wind blows soft and cool under their branches. I'd like to have a tree like that in my backyard, but then, as big as they get it wouldn't leave much of a backyard, not in my neighborhood anyway.

In speaking about the believer as compared to a tree bearing fruit, I'd like to return to our original scripture as found in Jeremiah 17:8. It says, "For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit." What a magnificent tree! We as believers are to be this kind of tree in God's fruitful forest that can be depended on by all who choose to visit.

First of all we are a tree by the rivers of water. We mark the spot where others can come for a refreshing drink in time of need. It is the water of life which we offer, the kind Jesus offered to the woman at the well, the kind that once consumed will quench the thirst so that they thirst no more. It simply means that we are by the flow of the spirit that will bring that kind of lasting refreshment to the soul of mankind.

We spread our roots by this great and mighty river. Often those roots are exposed along the banks. It may look as if we are about to be uprooted. But the parts of our roots that are exposed are only a fragment of what grows deeper in the ground. We can guarantee to others that we are standing firm and strong.

Our leaves are green and healthy, which means we offer the shade and coolness of the breeze to refresh others as they go on their way. I remember as a boy fishing in a river under a tree like this. Even though those roots appeared twisted and ugly, I felt safe under that tree. And so should others who choose to tarry in our presence for the moment. We offer them shade, refreshing, and safety.

We are not careful in the year of draught. This means that when the year arrives wherein there is a lack of rain, and perhaps it may seem that the river runs slower and shallower than at other times, we are still strong. We have stored up that which we need to continue being that strong source of safety to others.

And finally, we will not cease from bearing fruit. We can be counted on to always have the nourishment hanging from our limbs that is needed by others.

Now I know this sounds like a perfect person and if you're anything like me at all you're thinking, "Man, how can I ever live up to that?" We can't unless the Holy Spirit is the sap flowing through our veins. We are merely the vessels in which He works.

Also know that there are times when we are the tree, and times when we are the traveler who desperately needs the tree. When those times come thank God for others who can be that tree to us! As believers in Christ let us all strive to be that dependable, fruitful tree in God's fruitful forest.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

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