I grew up in northwest Oklahoma. There are not many trees in that part of this great state, but the ones that are big and healthy are generally the ones that have grown up around a creek or riverbed. These are the trees that are full of life because they have an ample source of water. It seems that they never stop growing and producing fruit. Some of the greatest times I had as a boy was eating ripe, juicy mulberries straight out of a creek that fell from a huge mulberry tree. Every summer, as a boy, I looked forward to the sweet fruit from that tree.
The bible is full of trees and tree metaphors. Psalm 1 is a strong illustration of who the righteous are compared to the wicked. Listen to what the bible says:
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish”...Psalm 1:1-6 ESV
The Psalmist says if you want to be a strong, healthy, fruit-bearing tree (family) you must do two things: live righteously and live in God’s Word.
First, to live righteously, Psalm 1:1 says, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.”
-
How many of us have done the wrong thing because we were with the wrong people? It is so difficult to let our lights shine when we are getting advice or instruction on how to live from worldly people. Lead your family to wholeheartedly pursue righteousness. God will bless your family for it and the world will see more of the light of Jesus.
Second, living in God’s Word is like being a tree firmly planted by streams of water. The Psalmist said, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night”…1:2
-
How did you feel when you read and meditated on God’s Holy Word today? Was it fulfilling? Did it give you strength?
-
E. M. Zerr says in his Bible Commentary, “The Bible is so full of a precious material that a man can read enough of it in a few minutes preceding his day’s activities to keep his mind busy all day.”
As your family strives to live a righteous life and continues to be students of God’s Word each day, as the Psalmist says, “whatever you do will prosper” (1:3b). It doesn’t mean your family will be free from trials, disappointments, and pain. It does mean that by living like a healthy tree, your family will honor Jesus during those hard times, and then He will give your beautiful family strength and blessings for generations.
Steve Minor
Steve was born in Hollis, OK. Steve graduated from Oklahoma Christian with a degree in Youth Ministry in 1998. OC is where Steve met the love of his life, Stephani Jimenez, and married in 1996. The Lord gave them three amazing children: Micah (husband, Joel Turner), Mason, and Makenna.
Steve & Stephani have worked for congregations in Texas and Oklahoma. Steve is the founder and director of Legacy Family Camp each October to equip and strengthen families and the MIGHTY Men’s Mentoring Conference each January to train and strengthen men to be leaders.
Steve is the preaching minister for the Wylie Church of Christ in Wylie, Texas.