Planted by the Waters - Paul M. Williams

Bethesda Shalom

Jeremiah 17:5-8

I don’t know if you’ve ever had the pleasurable experience of tracing the path of a river as it meanders through the iconic English countryside. It is a sight to behold. The ’S’ curved bends of the river as it winds its way round hill and gully. The flowing currents, sometimes gentle, sometimes fierce. The exposed banks of the river with their clayey substrate. All makes for a most tranquil experience amidst the dragonflies and bees! But with that said, this picturesque scene is not complete without mention of the mighty trees that hug the river's course. If you know anything about trees, you will know that beneath the surface of the soil there lies an extensive root system. Oftentimes, the tree’s roots will spread as wide as the tree is tall. It’s through these roots that the tree will absorb the vast majority of its water intake and it’s through these roots that stability is offered to the tree.

A tree with no roots is a dead tree! A tree with shallow roots is a vulnerable tree! But a tree with good strong roots is a healthy tree!! It is the will of God for all of His children to grow up unto maturity and to become as mighty oaks. May this sermon be of edification to you, to this end.