Like a Tree Planted by Streams of Water
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers” (Psalm 1:3).
When I was young, living in the upper Midwest, I used to play outside all summer long. There were more than plenty of kids and games to play from morning ‘til night. In fact, my least favorite activity was coming in for meals.There were always a few days each summer when the temperatures would soar well into the 90’s and the humidity level would do much the same. I wanted to be out and play so badly that I seldom let my body cool down. I also seldom stopped long enough to take the drinks of water that my body was craving. Unbeknownst to me, on those days I was quite susceptible to what’s called “heat exhaustion”. I didn’t take the time to do what I needed to do, at least not until I felt awful enough to have to go inside and recover for a few hours.Our bodies need the refreshment that water gives to withstand the physical stresses of intense heat. Without water, our bodies cease to function at their peak, and perhaps not at all.
In Psalm 1:3, the writer rejoices that a tree having plenty of water thrives and prospers. Unspoken, yet just as true, is that the same tree without water will likely wither and die. In much the same way, our minds, hearts, and souls need the regular watering of God’s Word to be healthy and to function at their peak. Our Old Adam needs the constant reminder that we are sinners who continually sin against our God. And right along with that, our New Man needs the constant encouragement that our sins have been graciously paid for in full and that simply through faith in God’s Son, Jesus, we have the certainty of eternal life with him right now and the privilege of serving him all our days.
This regular watering with God’s Word is absolutely vital to our spiritual health and life because we are constantly fighting spiritual, water-stealing enemies. Yet this watering doesn’t onlyassure us of Christ’s victory over the spiritual enemies we face every day. It also produces Christian fruit in our lives. Our New Man can’t help wanting to give thanks to God who demonstrated suchgreat love for him in Christ Jesus.This is why our New Man wants to tell everyone he can about what his Savior has done. Our desire is much like that of the shepherds near Bethlehem long ago who heard the angels’ song about the newborn baby Jesus, and after finding everything just as the angels had said, went and proclaimed all they had heard and seen about this child:“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
Like us,our home and world missionaries have the same, deep-seated desire to tell everyone they meet about their Savior. There is much kingdom work for our brothers and sisters in Christ to do as the mission fields are indeed ripe and ready for harvest. May the Lord continue to allow us, the LWMS, to support and pray for our missionaries as they seek to do God’s work in places where we ourselves cannot go, the workwhich he has enabled us to do for them these past fifty years. May he also continue to use his Word to water our missionaries’ lives and hearts – comforting them as they face whatever trials may come their way and enabling them joyfullyto proclaim the gospel of forgiveness in Christ Jesus wherever they may go.
We pray:Heavenly Father, like us, our missionaries battle the enemies of the cross every single day. Use the waters of your Word to refresh both us and our missionaries that we may all desire to serve you and to know how we may best do so. Thank you for allowing the members of the LWMS the privilege of carrying out the important, supportive work that we have donefor our missionaries these past fifty years. Give us further opportunities to assist these faithful workers in your kingdom. Amen.