This is a thought that came to me back in January. It’s a thought about a tree planted in a desert. Is it there by mistake or even as punishment? The answer is NO. Our Lord put it there intentionally. Where a tree planted by the Lord will grow. Produce fruit, shelter for the birds to nest in. Animals to get shade. Staying in the Lord will cause it to grow deep roots. Giving it nourishment steadily. Doing this it can produce fruit 30, 60, or 100-fold. Causing other trees to grow near it. Soon it will no longer be a desert, but a rich and fruitful land.

There are a few ideas here in this thought. One of them is the planting of the tree in the desert by the Lord. Notice that it’s not a pleasant area to be planted in. Because our Lord planted it there it will grow. How often do we hear of ministries failing because it was planted by us looking for a good place to be. Or even the ministry not becoming all it can be. There are other reasons for failure. Some of them pertain to obedience. Look at John chapter 4. This chapter talks about the woman at the well in Samaria. During this time the Jews didn’t associate with the Samaritans. Not exactly pleasant area. Yet Jesus went there and performed his work, and many believed in Him. A tree planted by the Lord.

While Jesus was there, He talked about the “living water” and is this not nourishment. Many believed in Him and produced many fold in return. It would be nice to have known what the area was later. If it turned into a forest rather than stay a desert.

The point is Jesus was intentional about this. And then it grew. Many of us have thoughts, dreams, and visions of doing God’s work. Just be sure He is planting you there.

One other note. Each of us has at least one gift from our Lord. Let’s be sure to use it in obedience to Him and His ways. He planted this gift in you. Using it in obedience to Him will cause it to grow. Through all this Jesus gets all the glory, honor, and praise.

Be blessed, Ken