A Righteous Tree

A Righteous Tree                                                                                                                 9/2023                                                                           

 “The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers, but the root of the righteous endures (Proverbs 12:12).

Trees are the world’s largest living creation. The only ones that never stop growing. General Sherman, a California sequoia is the world’s largest specimen. He salutes you at 274.9 feet tall and measures 82.3 feet in circumstance. God grew that tree from a seed that weighs 1/6000 of an ounce.

The world’s tallest tree, another California sequoia, Harry Cole, measures 371 feet from base to crown…the height of a 37-story building. The longest branched tree is a 550-year-old banyan in India. An alert third grader named Sherri upon learning this quipped to her teacher, “The leaves on those banyan branches Mrs. Pasillas are always taking risks!” “Why do you say that?” “Because they are going out on a limb - way out on a limb!” Clever girl and right. That banyan has a canopy that covers 5.2 acres…an area the size of 6 and a half football fields.

Question. How do you become a General Sherman for Jesus, a Harry Cole for Christ, or even a sprawling banyan providing shade for others in the steadfast love of God? Solomon answers in the negative and the positive with the pithy wisdom God gave him in Proverbs 12:12 “The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers, but the root of the righteous endures.”

Frist, the negative. DON’T DELIGHT IN THE EVIL OF ENSARING OTHERS. One way of getting gain in life is to profit from evil devices. Always have a con or a ruse. The Hebrew word for “stronghold” is “matsod” and it refers to a hunting implement - most often a net or snare. A wicked person delights in what an evil man gains from ensnaring others. In your daily life, in your marketplace dealings have you adopted a “woke” mindset that delights in tearing others down to supposedly make you look good? Taking what is not your own for profit? Repent.

Second, the positive. DO HAVE RIGHTEOUS ROOTS THAT GIVE LIFE. A righteous person has roots in Christ that last. He hears God’s Word again and again, receives forgiveness in the Lord’s Supper faithfully. Like that little seed God grew General Sherman from God grows the righteous person in the character of Christ as they send roots deep down into the means of grace - God’s Word and sacraments. Such a person sees no need to set traps. Rather he provides shelter, shade, and stability to others as he himself is fed by God through roots in him.

Two ways of living and two ways of getting gain. Will you profit from the misery of others by snaring them? Or will bless and build up others like a beautiful tree rooted in God?

Wanting with you to be a sheltering tree for Jesus,

Pastor Tim (1-210-837-3934)

Abiding Savior Lutheran Church 458 Turkey Trot Rd. Killeen, TX 76542