by Barbara Latta
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 does
not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper (Psalm 1:1-3 NKJV).
A science demonstration I watched showed two clear bins
on a table. Both contained potting soil, but one only held a few inches of dirt
while the other one was nearly full. Seeds were planted in both pots at the
same time. They were both watered and fertilized the same amount. In a few days
the bin with the shallow soil was sprouting little green sprigs. The other one
still had nothing on the surface but dirt.
In a couple of weeks, roots were seen stretching their way
through the soil of the deeper pot, but still no evidence above ground.
The shallow pot had a tall, green plant. It’s roots could be
seen through the clear sides and they were down to the bottom, crowding each
other and filling the dirt. But in a
short time, that plant began to wither and die.
The deeper soil began to produce a small plant. But beneath
that plant deep roots could be seen that were twice the size of the product on
the top.
You see, roots had to be put down before life-sustaining
growth could be maintained.
The plant in the shallow soil died because it’s growth was determined
by the depth of the roots.
Jesus told a parable of a sower sowing seed in Mark chapter
4. Some of the seed fell on stony earth and could not put down deep roots so
the sun scorched it and it died.
The seed that fell on good ground produced a crop. Ground that
allowed roots to grow and reach water and nourishment.
Jesus goes on to explain the parable telling His disciples the
seed that fell on stony ground is like those who hear the word of God but have
no root in themselves so they fall away when Satan tempts and attacks.
Like the plant in the science experiment, our spiritual growth
will be determined by the depth of our roots.
The way to grow deep roots is to eat:
I am the bread of
life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger (John 6:35a).
And drink:
But whoever drinks of
the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall
give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting
life (John 4:26).
Physical life depends upon food. Our spiritual life depends
upon continually dining in the Word of God. His Word is the seed we sow into our
minds and it becomes nourishment to the soul.
One of my favorite seeds is Ephesians 1:3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly
places in Christ.
Are your roots as deep as you want them to be? May we all,
as the body of Christ, be a fruitful garden, springing up bearing the fruit of
the Spirit to feed a hungry world.
Feel free to share some of your favorite spiritual seeds.
