“Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea.” (Ecclesiastes 1:7 NLT)
There is a rhythm in nature that is sometimes disrupted in human life because we get out of harmony with God. Jeremiah uses an example from nature in 17:7-8 when he writes: “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”
What a beautiful picture of someone who remains faithful to the Lord over many years. I think of my Mom and Poppa John (my grandparents), or my Auntie Al and Uncle Ed, or my Uncle Jack and Auntie Demetra, or my Mentor Dr. James C Burchett and his precious wife, Carolyn, or Pastor Fred and Retha Davey, or…and the list extends as I think of the godly men and women who have helped to shape my life across the years.
These strong lovers of God had deep roots in their faith in Jesus and, though each of them is now with the Lord, the “leaves” of their lives continue to bear fruit in and through those in whom they invested their love. In whose lives are you investing your faith in and love for Jesus? In future years, if the Lord tarries, who will remember your faith and loving investment in them?
Our faith in Jesus will only be remembered to the extent it was contagious. We remember the things that have an impact on our lives. I remember when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, when planes were deliberately crashed into the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon, and another commercial airliner, due to the brave passengers, was forced down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania before it could reach it’s intended target on 09-11-2001.
Just as the streams and rivers never forget their way to the sea, we will remember the people whose faith was contagious and impacted and encouraged us to build strong faith relationships. How does that happen? How do we put down strong faith roots that will blossom into a lasting impact on those in our families and spheres of influence?
It begins with a desire to love, know, and serve the King of kings and Lord of lords – the Lord Jesus! When He is first in our heart, He will not only be in our heart and on our mind, but on our lips. We talk about what’s important to us. Think of having a baby and never telling anyone about it or buying a new house or car and never inviting anyone to share in your excitement.
Beginning a relationship with Jesus is designed to be life-transforming – something we can’t help but share with others. Having walked with the Lord for more than 60 years, talking about and sharing Him with others has only increased. Why? Because my relationship with Him is still growing and manifesting new “fruit” on the “branches” of my life.
Just as the sea ebbs and flows, but never overflows its boundaries, our lives will never overflow, in the sense of never reaching a point where our excitement and joy in Jesus will cease to bubble up within us and flow into our conversations with others.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 