WATERED AND FRUITFUL

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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What do you hope to receive from the Lord when you open the pages of the Bible and read its message? Are you looking for quick answers to difficult questions? Are you looking for a dose of peace that will calm your anxious thoughts? What is it that you are hoping to receive when you encounter the Word of God?

Too many times, we treat the message of the Bible like a vending machine. We think that if we put in the time and energy, the answers we seek or the feeling that we desire will simply fall off the page and into our lives. 

The Lord might, on occasion, give you this kind of blessing, but this is not the purpose of the gift of God’s Word. The Lord wants to use his truth, hidden in the message of the Bible, to mold us and shape us into people who are mature and strong, able to press on in our calling no matter what comes in life. 

In the passage that follows, we hear an example of what it is that the Lord is seeking to accomplish in us through our faithful reading and application of his Word. 

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.

3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. 

4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

(Psalms 1:1-6 NIV11)

Blessed

Who is it that is considered blessed in the opening two verses of this Psalm? 

•   Those who choose not to follow the example of sin and faithlessness. 
•   Those who are careful about choosing to partner only with those who seek the Lord.
•   Those who delight in the message of wisdom and truth found in God’s Word.
•   Those who think about the message of the Bible and look for ways to apply its truth. 

Benefits

What benefits should a person who is committed to seeking the Lord in this way expect to receive from their faithfulness and dedication?

These benefits are outlined in verse three, “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.”

Purpose

What we just read is a great description of the purpose of scripture. If we will draw near to God’s Word, reading it, praying over it, considering it, wrestling with it, then we will receive the benefit for which the Word was created. 

We will be well watered and fruitful. 

The Lord wants his people to grow and mature. It is his plan that we should become fruitful and productive in our walk with the Lord. 

It is God’s plan to provide us the nutrients and the refreshment that we need to grow in the way that the Lord desires. We have access to these gifts and so much more within the message of the Christian Bible. That is why it is so important that we be in the Word daily.  

Warning

In verses 4-6, we hear a set of warnings and challenges. If we do not walk in the way of the Lord and if we do not partake in the gifts of his nourishment and refreshing as found in the Word of God, we will experience some negative effects.  

•   Our lives will be tossed about by the wind.
•   We will not stand in places of responsibility that require wisdom and strength. 
•   We will not know where we belong within the Body of Christ, the collection of God’s people. 
•   We will experience setbacks and even massive failures if we ignore God’s gift of truth. 

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, help me to see the real value and benefit of being in the message of your Word. Help be see that you want to shape and mold me into the person you created me to be. I long to walk in your ways and bring you glory in all I say and do. Thank you for the gift of your nourishment and refreshment. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Senior Pastor at PARK HILL BAPTIST CHURCH

Worked at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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