Planted.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3 ESV)

A few thoughts to consider this morning:

Notice that the blessed man is planted by the streams of living water. He’s not a tumbleweed ranging about, looking for moisture. He knows where his sustenance comes from, and there he stays. He is rooted in soil that is saturated with groundwater, fed continually by the living brook. Delighting in the Law of the Lord and meditating day and night seems to require more than the dutiful 10 minutes on the busride home. If I want to be a flourishing tree, I need daily contact with the Living Word through the written Word. Spiritual writings by other men are good and useful in their place, but if i’m not drinking deeply of the fresh water, all the devotional literature in the world won’t refresh me.

Consider also this point: the seed that becomes the tree doesn’t plant itself. (And don’t try to bust the metaphor by bringing up airborne dissemination of plants; that’s not the point here.) The image in verse 3 is of a seed that has been planted, and has flourished.

Christian, God has planted you by a living stream by giving you access to His thoughts through His words. In its waters, you have all you need to grow into maturity and be thoroughly equipped for the work laid out before you. Take up and read, and drink deeply today.