Daily Devotional for August 2, 2021
Transplanted Tree
Gael carefully filled a pitcher with water, took it out to the backyard, and poured the water at the base of a tiny black spruce tree. Each day more dried-up needles fell to the ground. “It’s not going to live, is it, Mom?” he asked.
“I don’t know, Gael,” Mom answered. “It doesn’t look like it will.”
“But I’ve been taking such good care of it!” Gael said.
“I know,” Mom said. “But remember what Grandpa said when you asked him if you could transplant it? He told you he didn’t think a black spruce would grow in our yard because those trees usually grow in extremely damp soil.”
“But I’ve watered it every day!” Gael exclaimed.
“I know, but since it’s so dry here, that might not be enough.”
Gael and his mom stood looking at the scraggly tree. “You know, Gael, that black spruce seedling reminds me of myself.”
“It does? How?”
“It’s in the wrong environment, and I used to be in the wrong environment too,” Mom explained. “I ignored my Bible, seldom went to church, and didn’t take time to pray. I didn’t spend much time with people who loved the Lord. As a result, I didn’t grow spiritually. For a long time, I didn’t even realize that.”
“We can’t always be with Christians though, can we?” asked Gael. “I mean, I have to spend a lot of time at school, and a lot of the kids there aren’t saved.”
“You’re right—it’s true that we all spend time in places where there are people who don’t know Jesus,” Mom agreed. “In fact, that’s why we need to be in those places—so we can point others to His love and grace. But we can’t do that effectively without being rooted in God’s Word and connected to God’s people. That’s why praying, reading the Bible, and going to church are so important—spending time with God and other Christians reminds us that we belong to Jesus. Those things create the healthy, fertile environment we need to grow spiritually and tell others about Him.”
“Okay. I’ll try to remember that,” said Gael. “If this tree dies, I’ll get another kind that will grow here. It will remind me that I need the right environment too.” -Linda M. Weddle
How about you?
What kind of spiritual environment do you have in your life? Do you attend church regularly? Do you have close friends who love the Lord and encourage you to follow Him? Do you read the Bible yourself and take time to talk with Jesus? Don’t neglect the things that help create the environment you need to grow spiritually and stay rooted in your faith.
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