“He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root; Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.  Isaiah 27:6.  They shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.  Isaiah  37:31.  They shall bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.  Psalm 92:14.  Her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:8

Evangelical Christians look upon themselves as barren trees, ever crying out, “O my leanness, my leanness!” Even before the judgment-seat of Christ, they acknowledge no fruits, nor will plead them, though they have been fruitful. Matthew 25:37-39.  The reason is, they are poor in spirit, and are not pleased with their fruits, but only with Christ.  Grant, O Lord, that I may earnestly seek to bring forth fruits, and may grow in fruitfulness as I grow in years; and never cease from yielding fruit; hereby proving myself to be a tree of the Lord’s planting, whose leaf is green, and whose branches are flourishing and fruitful.  Yet, bless me also with deep poverty of spirit, that I may see myself still nothing, having nothing of my own to glory in, or to justify me; and thus esteem Christ my all, and rest upon him wholly.

 Lord, ‘tis a pleasant thing to stand
In gardens planted by thy hand;
Let me within thy courts be seen,
Like a young cedar fresh and green.

There grow thy saints in faith and love,
Blest with thy influence from above;
Time, that doth all things else impair
Still makes them flourish strong and fair.

Laden with fruits of age they show
The Lord is holy, just, and true;
None that attend his gates shall find
A God unfaithful or unkind,
________
(A Golden Treasury ~ April 4)

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