Encouragement for Today - Oct. 17, 2008

October 17, 2008

Your Roots are Showing

“He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:8 (NIV)

Devotion:

Okay, I admit it, I color my hair. Like millions of women, I color my dull, dingy, drab, lifeless, gray hair. Ordinarily I wouldn’t think of mentioning this, after all a southern woman never admits two things: her age, or that she colors her hair. However it’s more than obvious that my roots are showing. My appointments are always scheduled months in advance because of the overwhelming demand for my hairdresser’s time and talents; but circumstances dictated that I miss my last appointment.

While you may be thinking this is a simple, vain complaint there is a spiritual application here. As believers we each have spiritual roots and those roots feed and nourish our spiritual lives. For instance, if our spiritual roots are planted deep in God, strong and well nourished, the roots may not be seen but our lives will show forth the fruit of the spirit found in Galatians 5.22: “… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” However, the opposite is also true. If our roots are shallow or showing, they will be too weak and frail to nourish the growth of spiritual fruit. Our lives and our witness for Christ will be dull, dingy, drab, gray and lifeless just like my hair.

Although a professional hairdresser uses her skilled hands to color my hair, her work is only temporary and I must return on a regular basis to maintain the desired results. The same thing can be said for maintaining deep roots in Christ and a fruitful life.

The benefits and power we receive from spending time with Christ can only be maintained as we commit to a regular routine of spending time with our sweet Jesus. Sadly, too often we allow circumstances to dictate our lives and we miss our daily Jesus appointment. It is in those times of neglect that our weakened roots begin to show. If you’re anything like me, living with my roots showing is not a good thing. My attitude and actions soon become unpleasant and unattractive. My focus turns to selfish desires and my witness for Christ soon turns from positive to positively ugly!

Our Jesus is in constant demand but unlike my hairdresser, we are assured He has time for us in every day. He is always available to listen and to provide exactly what we need to maintain the desired results of a spiritually fruitful life.

If we are to be strong witnesses for Christ, maintaining a life that produces the fruit of the Spirit even in difficult and stressful times, we must spend time with our “root specialist” Jesus on a regular and routine basis.

Dear Lord, thank You for always being available to me, and for the power I receive through Your Holy Spirit to live a fruitful life. Restore my desire to begin my day in quiet time with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

Come Thirsty by Max Lucado

The Busy Mom's Guide to Bible Study: A 15 Minute Daily Plan by Lisa Whelchel

Visit Zoe Elmore’s blog

Application Steps:

If you are concerned about your attitude and actions, and you long to produce mature spiritual fruit, commit to returning to Jesus on a regular and routine basis.

Reflections:

How can you restructure your daily routine to ensure strong and fruitful spiritual roots?

Power Verses:

Hosea 14:5, “I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots.” (NIV)

Psalm 19:14, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (NIV)

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105