Never miss the fact that in the parable of the sower and the seed, we are but the dirt.
Jesus taught, “But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15).
You never see a root rushing. Roots grow slowly and they do so unseen. But we know the roots and the ground in which they are spreading by the fruit that the tree will produce. Learn to rest in the Lord, burrowing deep into His Word, being the good ground upon which He can produce from.
It is the fruit that bears witness of the abiding. The Lord Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4).
Too many seek the instant spiritual growth which is always fueled by natural fleshly passions. They rise fast and they fall fast. If you want to have an enduring faith, a fruitful faith, then slow down. Be the good ground and let your roots go deep into the Word of God. If you want to serve God better, then know God better.
Good roots produce good fruits. “…take root downward, and bear fruit upward” (2 Kings 19:30).
Jesus taught about those who have shallow roots, “But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away” (Luke 8:13).
The fruits reveal the roots. “The wicked covet the catch of evil men, but the root of the righteous yields fruit” (Proverbs 12:12).
We must never rush when we are being transformed by an eternal God. It is better to be a little lower tree with deep roots than a little taller tree with shallow roots. We need to burrow down deep into the Word, whereby we can then stand firm as we reach for the things in heaven. Roots grow slow, but they hold up an enduring faith.
We think that if we serve more we will produce more. But the kingdom of God does not operate by the principles of this world. It is when we meditate on the Word day and night that we can produce fruit that is worthy for the kingdom. A tree must stay firmly planted in good ground to produce good fruit.
Faith is like a tree, the deeper the roots, the stronger it will stand. “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” (Jeremiah 17:8).
The roots you have determine the fruit you will bear. The Lord Jesus taught, “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit…” (Luke 6:43-44).
If you want to have a fruitful life for the kingdom. then you must yield your life that the Lord would produce fruit through you. We are not called to make the fruit but to be the good ground from which it comes from. Being fruitful has more to do with yielding than producing.
You do your part and let the Holy Spirit do His. “…the fruit of the Spirit is love…” (Galatians 5:22).
The higher you want to grow in your faith, the deeper the roots must go. “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:2-3).
Don’t measure your fruit using the scales of man, but by the purposes of God. If He calls you to produce a basket of apples, don’t get stuck trying to make a single orange. Let God determine His plans for you, and you just be willing to do them.
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius
All Scripture is quoted from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted. Please use the version you prefer to review the verses shown here. The best version is the one you read. An even better version is the one you live.
This was so timely. I happen to be reading a book about fruitful ministry. This, I take as a confirmation of guiding my life. Rather be busy, be fruitful according to God’s will…not my own.
Thank you Paul
Thank you, Kate. It is so important that we press into that fruitful life, to a fruitful ministry, that we would serve Him with everything He would pour through us.
What r the roots?
The roots are our faith. The Word is the seed, and if we receive the seed in deep and rich soil of our heart, then the faith will grow deep roots and sprout into a large tree, from which fruit can then be plentiful.