The tree of life
by Maria Rudolph
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They are like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever they do prospers (Psalm 1:3).
Read Psalm 1
This year the LCANZ has another simultaneous art exhibition across all congregations, and the theme to inspire artwork for it is ‘The Tree of Life’. I wonder whether you might be a person working on artwork for this exhibition, or if you know someone in your congregation who is?
There are endless possibilities to capture the topic, and inspiration everywhere, even within our church! The logo of Grow Ministries, which has resourced the church with child, youth and family ministry materials, also depicts a tree. The very first psalm in the collection of 150 psalms in our Bible paints a picture of a person who follows in the ways of the Lord as a strong and healthy tree planted by a life-giving stream of water. Jesus talks of himself as the giver of living water and that by drinking it we will never thirst again. The final book of the Bible, Revelation (22:1,2), talks about the river of life in the New Jerusalem, which flows from the throne of God, and that on each side of the river stands the tree of life, growing above the river, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. What an amazing vision! I wonder if we will get to see it in heaven?
Jesus tells us in Revelation (22:12–14): ‘Behold, I am coming soon! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.’ So let’s be a tree in our current circumstance, today. Let’s wash our robes by laying down our sin and asking Jesus for forgiveness. Let’s immerse ourselves in the Living Water and let’s sink our roots deeply into this life-giving stream to drink up God’s word every day. Then we are a big, strong, healthy tree after God’s own heart and the fruit of the Spirit will grow on and in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And then we will prosper by storing up treasures in heaven. God is growing you into a tree of life.
How can you sink your roots deeply into God today?
Loving God, it is only with your help, with your nurture and with your gentle pruning, that I can be a strong and healthy tree. Guide me to sink my roots deeply into you and nourish me with your Living Water and with your Bread of Life. Help me to bear good fruit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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