By Paul Alberts
When a person plants a new tree in his yard, he will give it special care to be sure it grows and becomes strong. Unlike other, established plants on his property, the new tree may need extra watering and fertilizer during the first month or so to help it grow strong and healthy. Once a tree is well-rooted, it doesn’t generally need the same kind of care on a frequent basis, although some additional water and compost may still be good from time to time.
Our lives as believers are very similar. When we have just been born again, the Lord encourages and guides us by various means to help us take root in the faith. Writers this month seek to provide some advice, as led of the Lord, for individuals who are newly saved. If you are one of those individuals, we rejoice with you in this new relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. May you carefully follow Him, staying close to Him each and every day.
The articles in this magazine are valuable as well for those of us who are more mature believers. We need reminders to encourage us to continue walking in a manner pleasing to Him. The apostle Peter was not bashful about repeating points to the saints, for they were intended to stir them up in their faith. He wrote: “I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder … I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles” (2 Pet. 1:12-13, 3:1-2 NASB). Both Paul and Jude gave reminders in their letters as well. We need them!
Like a tree of any age, we need to be rooted in the source of life continually in order to avoid the dangers that exist, get through the hard times that come, produce fruit honoring to the Lord and prosper in God’s sight (see Ps. 1:1-3). May we take to heart the instruction from the Lord, which is good for all believers, and grow in Him to His glory!