Downward and Upward

The natural world of plants sometimes gives us glimpses of how we, as Christians, should function.

Plants normally send roots downward and grow upward.  And fruit bearing plants normally produce fruit.

That carries over into how God works in our lives on a spiritual level:  “And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward.”  (Isa 37:31)

We take root, not in soil, but in Christ:  “having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” (Col 2:7).

And much like a plant, we can grow upward:  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  (John 15:5)

Furthermore, we are to be like a fruit bearing plant and bear fruit:  “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”  (John 15:16)

And the fruit is typically produced as we are engaged in good works:  “We’re praying this so that you can live lives that are worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way: by producing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God; (Col 1:10)

And to top it all off, the most excellent of fruit is the fruit of the Holy Spirit being evidenced in us:  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  (Gal 5:22-23)

In the midst of the process of putting roots downward, growing upward and bearing fruit, we can sometimes be at odds with the whole process:  “You plant them like trees and they put down their roots. They grow prosperous and are very fruitful. They always talk about you, but they really care nothing about you.”  (Jer 12:2)

Unfortunately, we can sometimes just talk about the One who works in us while caring little about Him.  It’s then that the talk demonstrates an unwillingness to be engaged in the process and it also demonstrates a lack of acknowledgment of the One who does the heavy lifting.  And what results is usually fruit that does not remain.

Rejoice that He chose you to bear fruit.  Work at putting roots downward in Christ and growing upward in Him.  Endeavor to live a life that is worthy of the Lord and pleasing to Him and, in doing good works, produce fruit that remains.