The Willow and the Oak - Psalm 1

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall 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 ungodly shall perish."

My favorite tree is the Willow Tree. Historically it has inspired poetry and children's stories for its elegant and melancholy nature in appearance. It has a unique beauty with its long hanging branches and narrow elongated leaves which dance and whisper in the wind like no others. It has medicinal uses recognized by Hippocrates, and grows easily when you cut a branch and stick it in the ground or in water to develop roots for a separate tree. I hear that it is possible to put it in water with a branch from another tree, not known to root like it does, and it can cause roots for this tree as well. Another quality of the Weeping Willow is that it does very well in or near very wet areas and can help stabilize loose wet soil to prevent erosion. Here is a picture of my personal Weeping Willow dancing in the wind as it is rooted by our springfed pond:

















I also like the Oak tree as we have recently planted one near the pond as well. It is known for its strength, towering height, and life span. Oak is favored by wood workers for its beauty and hard wood which results in the making of desirable and attractive furniture. A hidden difference between the Willow and the Oak tree is in the roots.

Oak trees will grow deep down into the soil as permitted by the soil:
















Willow trees will grow roots outward more than down as this Redwood tree:




It's been reported that the Willow roots can grow out as far as 3 or 4 times it's height to find a water source.

As Christians, we should have both deep and wide roots in the Love of Christ. As we drink deep from the Wellspring of His Salvation our roots should be well established in the Truth of God's Word. Meditating day and night in His Word and submitting our hearts to a prayerful and willing obedience of the Truth we are seeing as He provides the promised grace.

2 Peter 1:2-3
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

Psalm 119:18
Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.

Psalm 46:4-5
There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.

Psalm 36:8-9
They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.

The fruit of this will be manifested to others as we absorb the Life coming from the Power of Him Who raised Christ from the dead and He produces the fruit through us. Without Him we are dry and lifeless.

Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Our leaves will not wither because He will never leave us or forsake us. Without Him we have nothing and are nothing! He gets all the glory for any good done through our lives because He is the source of all true good.

Isaiah 26:12
Lord, You will establish peace for us, For You have also done all our works in us.

It is this Power which gave us Life when we were dead in our sins and blind to His Light.

Colossians 2:13
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

2 Corinthians 4:6
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

It is this Power which transforms us into the image of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

It is this Power which keeps us from falling as we walk in the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:16
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Psalm 56:13
For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living?

Psalm 116:8
For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling.

Jude 24-25
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever.
Amen.

Whatever he does prospers. And this prosperity is eternal and does not fade away as all riches of this earth will.

This free invitation to Salvation goes out to all as it was poetically described by God's prophet:

Isaiah 55:1 "Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price."

But you must see your dire need of the Savior, Jesus Christ, to save you from the sin that has separated you from eternal life.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

After you come to this:

Drink Deep until your Lord returns!

Scripture quotes - nkjv