Every Friday I join a community of bloggers for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt, five minutes. Unedited. The prompt this week is … Root.
It’s been quite a dry and hot summer, very little rain. As the summer wore on, the water ban increased causing some of my annual plants to dry out and die.
Dry soil is not exactly fertile ground, or ideal conditions, for the growth of vegetation. Many plants would not survive, never mind, thrive.
Yet we are told of one servant who both grew, and did thrive, in the unlikeliest of places:
“My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground.” (Isaiah 53:2, NLT)
The verse is referring to Jesus, who came into a dry and spiritually empty world. He grew and thrived, and so can we, even when conditions around us may not be perfect.
The verse tells me two conditions we need for spiritual growth …
We must dwell where we will thrive and there is no better place than close to the Lord. “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate in His temple” (Psalm 27:4, NASB). Where are we dwelling?
Our lives are kept pure as we spend time in God’s Word. God’s Word waters our dry and thirsty souls, and we need watering daily. “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word” (Ephesians 5:25b-26, NASB). Are we being sufficiently watered?
Our roots matter and determine our spiritual health. The word prompt brought to mind a quote I wrote down in the back of my Bible:
“Its roots are the means whereby a plant is nourished, the channel through which its life is derived. No plant can live without a root-system. Equipped with one it may survive in the most unpromising conditions.”
(from A Table In The Wilderness by Watchman Nee, March 1st)
Photo by Lubo Minar on Unsplash
Today I may be joining …
I love the point you make from Isaiah about Jesus growing up like a root in dry ground because he had God’s presence with him, and I love that we used the same song with our posts today too!
Leslie, your post went along the same lines as mine today 🙂 I love when God confirms His Word this way!
Dry soil is not fertile ground,
and planting there’s no romp,
but it’s easier, I’ve found,
than gardening a swamp
where everything grows in profusion,
springing forth with ease,
but fecundity’s illusion
to hide a fell disease,
an opportunistic chance
grabbed foremost by the quick,
to force the others from the dance
of life, and then grow thick
with leaves and vines all reaching tall,
but really of no use at all.
Andrew, you did a wonderful job of describing the distinct difference between fertile ground and a swamp! May we look to grow good fruit, and not that which is useless. Not all that looks good is good!
may our dry ground of growing always be nourished by the living water of the Lord God eh? FMF11
Yes!
Hi Joanne,
I’d never thought about Isaiah 52:3 in that way before. What a keen observation!
I haven’t been well watered this week and I’m feeling it. Thank you for the reminder.
Blessings,
Tammy
The drought we are feeling from lack of rain in our area has been reminding me to water my soul with God’s Word. We need to intentionally make time to drench our hearts and minds.
Great post, Joanne. You spoke of similar things to me and used the same song!! I love that verse from Psalm 27 – it has been my life psalm for over 20 years. Thanks for sharing.
Kath, your FMF neighbour at #7 this week.
That is een good blogpost, Joanne. I really like what you write about Isaiah 53:2. About Jesus. It was abit new for me. I mean: I know the text but not in this context
It’s so dry here too. In the nature. But Western Europe is also really becoming a desert, in a spiritual sense. Your blog gives me hope: how to live in a dry environment. Very special that we can encourage each other like this.
Good insights, Joanne.
Thanks for sharing.
Where we dwell and become rooted matters indeed. Love that Casting Crowns song! Visiting (late!) from FMF#28