Becoming a Towering Tree

Several weeks ago, Bethany and I walked a new path that led us through many wooded areas. As we rounded a curve, I noticed a small evergreen near the path had worked its way through the ground. Less than a foot tall, the green in its foliage was fresh and bright. Though the little tree was young, it looked healthy and ready for a long life. I looked around our surroundings for other little sprouts and then I looked up. High up, trees like my little sprout grew tall and strong. Above me, I saw the reality of what the right growing conditions would help this little sprout become.

From the time he was incredibly young, Timothy was taught the scriptures. Growing up in Lystra in Asia Minor, his father was a pagan Greek and his mother, Eunice, a Jewish Christian. His grandmother, Lois, was also a devout Jew. Timothy was led to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus through his mother and grandmother. He was taught about the cross and what Jesus did for him there. He accepted God’s gift of salvation and followed the examples of Lois and Eunice in living a life of genuine godliness.

While still young, Timothy had the opportunity to join Paul and Silas on their missionary journeys. He became one of the workers closest to Paul, who thought of him as a son. As Paul prepared Timothy for ministry and preaching the truth of God’s Word, he encouraged Timothy through this passage from his letter in 2 Timothy.

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

Paul knew Timothy had a solid foundation of knowledge in God’s Word. From the time he was young, Timothy had been taught about God. He encouraged Timothy to not only know God’s truth but to live it. Through words directly inspired by Himself, God provided both Timothy and all believers everything we need to know for life.

God’s words are profitable or beneficial for teaching, for rebuking us when we have done wrong, and correcting or guiding us to what is right. His words help to train us in godly living or righteousness. He shows us how He intended life to be lived. God has given us everything we need in His Word to help us on the path to becoming more like Christ. He gives us everything we need to be transformed from the inside out, equipping us to do His work and bring Him glory.

Often, I think even though I know what is in God’s Word, I am surprised when I continue to have struggles, cannot overcome a sin, feel God is far away, or nothing seems right. I know who God is and what Jesus has done for me, then I realize what I know in my head has not filtered its way into my heart. I have not allowed what I know about God to change how I think about Him and about myself and my life. I have not allowed the truth of God’s Word to teach, rebuke, correct, and train me. Rather than being a tall, strong evergreen, I am just a little sprout.

My little sprout is a tree. I know that just by looking at it, and I see what it should become. Without the right conditions, just knowing what it is supposed to be will not make it that. Other factors need to come into play, like water and nourishment. Similarly, you can know God and what is in His Word, but if you do not allow God’s Word to nourish and grow you, to rebuke and correct you, to train you and change you, you will remain small. Your work for Him will be limited. You will continue in the same struggles, in the same sin cycles, in the same pain. Only by allowing the truth of God and His Word to penetrate your heart and truly change you will you become more like the Savior.

“My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you.” (Proverbs 2:1-11)

God’s Word is not just to help us gain knowledge; it is the truth we need to know for life. His truth helps us grow from being a little sprout into a towering tree.

In His Love,

Susan