Nov 20 – LIKE RIVERS !

From the top of the mountain, Prophet Balaam had a good look at the children of Israel encamped according to their tribes, at the base of the mountain. He marvelled at the beautiful tents and dwellings of the children of God. He saw the children of God like the rivers that stretch out.

At the point of origin, the river starts off as a small stream. But as it moves forward, it is joined by many brooks, creeks and tributaries, and becomes a wide river, with plentiful waters and swift currents. In the same manner, you shall also expand and multiply and will be like the ever-so-widening rivers.

You should never get stagnated in your spiritual life, but keep on progressing, and be a channel of blessing to others. Since the Spirit of God is within you, you should be a source of enrichment and blessing to multitudes of people.

The children of God are compared not only to the rivers, but also to the gardens by the riverside. When someone plans to have a garden, he will ensure that a good supply of water is available. He will also check whether there is a wellspring of water in that land.

If he were to dig out a well, then he will worry whether he will have adequate water for the garden. But if he were to set up a garden by the riverside, then there are no such concerns. The roots of the trees will go deep and absorb the water from the river. The trees will also benefit from the fertile soil by the riverside.

In this analogy, the Church of God is the garden; and Believers are the various trees planted in the garden. The Spirit of God is the river that enriches all the trees and make them bear fruits. While there is only one river, innumerable trees are benefitted by that one river. The Spirit is One and there are diverse gifts of the Spirit. When you are rooted in the Holy Spirit, you will continue to bear fruits for the Lord.

In the key verse of the day, the Lord has mentioned about various types of trees. How beautiful it will be to look at the Aloes or Sandalwood trees planted by the Lord or the Cedars beside the waters! They are planted by the Lord, and they diffuse the fragrance of His knowledge, and remain steadfast for the Lord.

Children of God, do you remain as the tree planted by the Lord? Are the fruits of the Spirit, found in you? Will you remain steadfast in the place where the Lord has planted you and lead a life of testimony?

Verse for further meditation: “The trees of the Lord are full of sap, the cedars of Lebanon which He planted” (Psalm 104:16).