Think of an oak tree for a moment.

Oak trees are very adaptable to the environments in which they are planted. As long as it is planted in nutrient rich soil as a seedling, it has the foundation to grow into a tall, strong, fruit-bearing tree in its long years of life.

Oak trees are magnificent. They’re beautiful in appearance; they’re various in species; they provide great shade and nourishment for a variety of insects and animals; and have a long growth and sustainable life cycle.

What’s also amazing about Oak Trees is their root system.

An Oak Tree is like the Body of Christ

In 2020, I was preparing a sermonette (or teaching) for Moms In Community (MIC) in Sterling, KS, as a guest speaker. MIC, which I had the pleasure of being a part of during their development and launch, was formed with the intention of creating a space where women and moms can get together to be encouraged, supported and enjoy fellowship together in the seasons of life. They continue to meet regularly. You can find information on Facebook.

While I was preparing my teaching, which happened to be at the latter part of the pandemic year, the Lord shared with me this imagery of an oak tree and it’s significance as it relates to our faith.

I had the impression I needed to teach about the dangers of connecting to someTHING else an during that unprecedented time of the global pandemic. In all of the uncertainty COVID unleashed, I had been dismayed by the number of followers who had fallen away from their faith during that unimaginable time. I had felt encouraged to remind them to come back. To come back to the Truth they knew, and if they have never known this Truth, to do so then.

A Deeply Rooted, Fruit-Bearing Oak Tree

In our life, to be followers of Jesus who are unwavering in our faith, we must ensure we are planted in the Good Soil with strong, healthy root systems. In writing my sermonette, the Lord taught me this:

The root system of a big living Oak Tree is so far down in the ground, it’s longer, deeper and wider than the branches seen above the ground. But even still, these roots are intertwined with other trees’ roots.

Why? Because when the elements of the earth, storms and winds, come, these oak trees are rooted so deeply, intertwined with other strong trees that they don’t get blown over or broken under the elements. They don’t succumb to the storms.

We need to be like these oak trees.

We, believers of Jesus Christ, need to be planted in nutrient rich soil as seedlings so we have a good foundation to grow into a tall (unfortunately I wasn’t blessed with height in the literal sense), strong, fruit-bearing trees.

We need to be rooted so deeply in Christ Jesus and what He says is Truth. We need to be intertwined with other strong, deeply rooted believers and followers of Jesus so that when the elements of this world come against us (because they certainly will, read John 16:33), we aren’t blown over; we aren’t tossed back and forth by the waves or blown here and there with every wind of teaching (read Ephesians 4:14). We aren’t broken under the circumstances we have no control over.

We need to be adaptable to our environments. Not succumbing to the environments around us, but adapting to where we remain strong and steadfast in Truth through the storms.

We need to radiate the beauty and zeal of every kind of species (or ethnicity).

We need to provide great shade and nourishment from our fruits to all around us to ensure the growth of similar seed. Discover what the Fruits of the Spirit are- these are the evidence from those whom the Father is growing into the likeness of Him.

A fruit tree doesn’t bear fruits to eat itself. It doesn’t need the nutrients of the fruit it produces to grow. Rather, the fruits grown are an extension of the nutrients received from the roots. It’s an overabundance of the fruitfulness received under the surface of the ground so that it might feed, nourish, and refresh the picker or receiver of the fruit above ground.

I get goosebumps typing this again. It’s so beautiful, with powerful imagery.

Once You’re Planted…

Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior is the beginning of establishing a deep root system in Christ. But it’s critical where you are planted.

Once you have chosen to grow in Him, following His ways and being nourished by His Word, the Holy Spirit begins to deepen your roots in Christ, revealing more Truth of His Word for you to live and abide by. (Hebrews 4:12)

As you grow and become strengthened by God through the Holy Spirit, you become like the oak trees with root systems that are deep and wide; that are intertwining with other strong root systems. Then, when a new tree buds and begins to deepen its roots, it has your strong, mature roots to intertwine with; to support it when the waves and storms of life come.

That’s like the body of Christ.

Jesus commissions believers in Matthew 28 to a job- “to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you…”

Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through Psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…”

Furthermore, we who are rooted like the oak trees and have matured to the place of bearing fruit for others’ nourishment, we are to “preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, encourage- with great patience and careful instruction…” (2 Timothy 4:2,5)

Be like an oak tree; be planted and grow deep in the one and only Truth.

---

Subscribe to Transparency in Love for more content like this!