In Duck Creek, Utah at my parent’s cabin I am staring at the marvelous Ponderosa pines and listening to the birds wake up. These vast huge trees grow up from a single seed that they spread indiscriminately. They last for hundreds of years and produce thousands of seeds. It reminds me of my theme verse for the year, Jeremiah 17:7. It says:
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord ,
whose confidence is in him. They 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.”
In this verse is the secret to making disciple makers, to leave a legacy that lasts longer than the lifespan of a Ponderosa. So how do we multiply?
Trust in the Lord
It is not a formula. It is a relationship. To produce fruit I must rely on God to fill me needs and direct my paths. In loneliness I reach out to Him. In plenty I give praise to Him. When I am suffering I give my pain to Him. Lost? Find direction in Him. Needy? Find you fulfillment in Him.
Place your confidence in Him
Not only do we trust God, we place our confidence in Him. Confidence takes something for granted. You trust it so much that you automatically rely upon the fact. The climber is confident in his belayer. The eagle is confident in his ability to soar. We are to be confident in our partnership with the living God. Confidence is based on verifiable fact and personal experience. God has pulled us through before. He has provided for our needs. We can be confident that He will do so in the future.
Do not fear
The tree does not fear because it has all it needs. When drought comes the tree is still green and produces fruit. It’s roots go deep into the living water that sustains it through dry times. In the same way, when we are rooted in Jesus we to have nothing to fear. He sustains and directs us. When doubt comes we rely on our confidence in God. I am afraid of heights. When I am at the edge of a cliff I e this feeling in the pit of my stomach of danger. The fear can paralyze me and I panic. instead I heed to have confidence. Likewise, in life I when I am outside my comfort zone I lack the do evidence I need. However I need to place my trust in my partnership with God and allow Him to give me strength and direction.
Bear fruit
The natural outcome of my dependence on God will show others the source of my strength. As God shines through me others will see that I place my trust in the Ultimate Provider. They too will trust Him as they see it lived out in our lives.
It all comes back to one word…. trust. Live in Him and you will bear fruit. Trust Him and others will trust Him. And the process will continue. Just like the trees.
Lead WILD 