We’re wrapping up our series on trees today with master naturalist, Bible teacher and author Eryn Lynum. We’re going to take this study to the Psalms and learn about fruit. Fruit is a very strong symbol, an image that God used throughout the scriptures. The fruit of our lives is really what we produce with our time and our talent and the resources that God has given us and the fruit of our lives should lead others to God’s love.
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Transcription:
Guest Speaker: Eryn Lynum
Welcome to the Bible for Busy People podcast. I’m Eryn Lynum, master naturalist, Bible teacher and author, and all week we have been looking at trees in scripture. Today is our final day and we’re going to take this study to the Psalms and learn about fruit. Fruit is a very strong symbol, an image that God used throughout the scriptures. The fruit of our lives is really what we produce with our time and our talent and the resources that God has given us. And the fruit of our lives should lead others to God’s love. So, consider the imagery of fruit used throughout the Psalms. Let’s look at Psalm 1:1-3.
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.
What a beautiful image of a fruit bearing life. Further, in Psalm 128:1-3 we read,
Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.
Consider the implications of these Psalms. When we meditate on God’s word day and night, and when we follow his ways, we’ll enjoy the fruit of our work and our families will flourish. Consider the imagery that’s used, a tree that yields its fruit and season. A fruitful vine and olive shoots. I love this third one because I get to see it every day out my kitchen window. So we have this old stump in our yard and I call it a stump, but it’s actually taller than I am, and it’s a stump of an olive tree that was cut down before we bought the house. But every spring this olive tree stump puts out shoots and a whole lot of them. This thing is determined to grow and put forth fruit. It reminds me of Job 14:7-9, which says,
“For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant.
What a beautiful image. When we think about Psalm 128 with fruitful vines and olive branches, we can be assured that God can bring forth fruit from hard places. If you ever feel like your fruit has shriveled up and you’re not producing much good, take heart. Even at the scent of water, a tree can bud again, and as we root ourselves into God’s word and his presence, he will bring forth fruit in season. In scripture, we see that there are different qualities of fruit. We can see this in John chapter 15. So first, let’s look at John 15:5.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
This scripture really takes us back to day two of our study. When we looked at roots, the word abide means to remain wait, and dwell. As we root into Christ, as we remain in him, we can produce good fruit. John 15:1-17 is a fascinating passage when it comes to fruit, and when we’re finished here, I just encourage you go read the entire passage. But for now, what I’ll highlight is this. In the first 15 verses John 15:1-15, we see this word abide 10 times. Now each is referencing either us abiding in Christ, or Christ or his word abiding in us. But verse 16 is different. There’s one more mention of this word abide, but it’s not referring to us or Christ. It’s referring to our fruit. Listen to John 15:16,
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.
I find it so interesting that this final instance of abiding is all about our fruit. It’s the same Greek word, meno, meaning to remain. So when we think about fruit, we don’t often think about it remaining. It’s kind of here and then gone. But Jesus says that our fruit should remain. It should have a lasting effect. It should have longevity. The fruit of our lives should alter eternity, and this is possible as we abide in Christ. God wants to do great things through you. He chooses to bring us his children, into his incredible kingdom work. And the good news is this, it’s not all up to us. We don’t have to force good fruit. Instead, God calls us to abide in him. So, let’s sink our roots deep and put good and lasting fruit out into this world.
Thank you so much for joining me this week on our journey through trees and scripture. I would love to connect with you over on my website where you can find free bible and nature activities and devotionals. That’s my name, erynlynum.com, E R Y N L Y N U M.com. You can also find me over on my podcast, Nat Theo Nature Lessons Rooted in the Bible, or pick up a book of my new book, Rooted in Wonder, Nurturing Your Family’s Faith Through God’s Creation. I’m so grateful for our time together this week, and to root deeper into scripture while exploring God’s creation. With that, I hope you get out into God’s nature this week and glimpse his divine attributes through his handiwork.
Dear Creator, God, thank you for this week. Thank you for your word. Thank you for nature and that you want us to know you more. Lord, bless the fruit of our lives that it would affect eternity. Amen.
Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This podcast is part of Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life. Find more podcasts that will recharge you at onpurposely.com.
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