We Thrive with Jesus
Aspen trees are possibly
my favorite trees because of their picturesque trunks and delicate leaves. In
most of Northern America we call them quaking aspen (or trembling aspen)
because the leaves quake or tremble, even at the slightest breeze.
Did you know that an
aspen grove grows from a single tree? Aspens occasionally start as seedlings, but young aspens more typically grow from underground roots, and, as the roots travel underground, more and more sprouts
shoot up. (See clonal colonization.) So, the snow-nestled trees in the pictures
in this post are one single organism. You might call them one single tree.
The larger tree you see in the foreground is the mother
tree. All the other trees in the grove (or clone) sprouted from the roots of the mother tree. So, the entire grove grew and thrived as it remained
connected to the root system of a single, life-giving tree.
Jesus said…
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
In John 15:1-17, Jesus described people who remain
connected to Him, the true vine. He is the mother tree of the grove and we
thrive when we remain rooted in Him. There are two benefits that happen through
us when we remain rooted in Jesus – benefits for others, not really for ourselves.
Benefit 1: We flourish with forever fruit (John 15:1-4)
We may not always feel like it, but we’re in this
world to make a difference in other people. God prunes us for that very purpose.
He wants us to bear fruit – to offer sweet nourishment to the lives we touch. (To
offer less sweet yet still healthful avocados and tomatoes, too!)
The reason we grow is to produce fruit, like love, obedience, and representing the gospel of Christ well. Jesus chose us to get up from our cozy loungers and to bear fruit that will last – forever fruit (John 15:16). We grow forever fruit for others to enjoy.
But we can't grow the fruit without Jesus.
Benefit 2: We proceed with powerful prayers (John 15:5-7)
When we remain rooted in Jesus, our prayers remain
powerful. Jesus said, “ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”
(John 15:7b). If you’re a prayer warrior, make sure you’re rooted in Jesus. Even if you’re not a prayer warrior, you can have effective prayers when you’re
rooted in Jesus.
If we’re truly one with Jesus, we rely on Him for
instruction, direction, and the many things we need to step through life. This also
means we pray in accord with God’s will (1 John 5:14-15), which includes both His moral wishes and His purposes. Do we share the same will as God? Naturally, no.
Rooted in Jesus, yes – more and more as we grow.
So, what does it take to remain rooted in Jesus?
How can we continuously thrive in the Aspen grove we call God’s family, and reap
the associated benefits?
To be honest, we can’t do it on our own. Centering our
lives on Jesus requires partnership with the Holy Spirit, who came to help us remain rooted in Jesus when He left this earth (John 14:25-26). I won’t write much about how John 15 instructs
us to remain in Jesus because the Scripture is very clear. Take time to reflect
on these three ways to remain rooted in Jesus.
1. Recognize God's discipline and make corrections.
…every branch that does bear fruit he prunes
so that it will be even more fruitful.
John 15:2b
2. Glorify God and identify with Him. We do not serve ourselves.
This is to my Father's glory,
that you bear much fruit,
showing yourselves to be my disciples.
John 15:8
3. Love with sacrificial love.
My command is this:
Love each other as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this:
to lay down one's life for one's friends.
John 15:12-13
The world's biggest living organism is not the blue whale. An aspen grove named Pando is 40 times heavier.
Are we united enough to have such a presence in this world?
As the wind blows, the aspen leaves quake with a soft whisper, but a whisper we surely hear.
Do we care enough to impact hearts with gentleness
in the busy landscape of our society?
Together, we can be that one single tree, rooted in Jesus,
producing abundant fruit, interceding for people, and loving them and each
other for the glory of God.
The world needs this.
How good and pleasant it is
when God's people live together in unity!
Psalm 133:1
If you want to know more
about becoming a tree in God’s aspen grove, please email me at authordlv@att.net. Sprouting up from Jesus’
roots is simple and God will enjoy watching you grow tall and beautiful.
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more blog posts here.
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