Job chapter 14 verses 7-9 (NIV)
“At least there is hope for a tree:
If it is cut down, it will sprout again,
and its new shoots will not fail.
Its roots may grow old in the ground
and its stump die in the soil,
yet at the scent of water, it will bud
and put forth shoots like a plant.”
Prior to these verses, Job was reminding his friends that it is important to put our lives right with God before we pass into eternity. Today I had the privilege of attending the funeral of someone who had done just that, and the Pastor taking the service encouraged those present who hadn’t yet done so to follow his example.
But even as Christians, and those who seek to follow God as Job did, we might find ourselves in situations where we think we have lost all we hoped for. Sometimes like Job, it is not through anything we have done, but sometimes it is as a result of our own choices. Yet these verses bring us hope and encouragement. If we set our intentions to follow God’s direction and seek out the living water that Jesus offers us, our spiritual lives can bud and put out fresh shoots. Our spiritual life will only perish if we allow it to become dry and don’t take the time to seek the nourishment and refreshment that comes from seeking Jesus. It is so encouraging that even in the midst of his own despair, Job was offering hope to his friends, who were not doing that for him.
Dear Lord,
Thank You that it is always possible to make a fresh start in Christ if we seek His living water and sink our roots into the good soil that You cultivate. Help me to take every opportunity to encourage others to do that to. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.