There once was an oak tree whose extravagant foliage was lopped off by a great spring thunderstorm. A great many squirrels lived upon and by means of the fruitfulness of this great, old oak. Coming for a winter visit to honor the once noble tree, one squirrel spoke to the tree: “How despairing you must feel now that you bear no fruit! I see nothing of your goodness will be enjoyed this coming year … you’re merely a great wooden stump.”

The tree, far wiser than the squirrel, graciously answered: “Even now, according to the great fruit I bore the previous year—which even you unknowingly helped to harvest—I anticipate the first leaves and acorns of at least a dozen saplings bearing fruit all around me.” 

We receive the coming year as a gift, full of fruit that we may not yet see. Questions come to us about all that can be of the new start, but we rest assured Christ will be glorified. How can we work to anticipate that growth and fruitfulness in the year ahead? First, we pray to be useful and thoughtful of His works. Keeping a close watch on our prayer, Bible-reading, and fellowship is prudent fruit that bears more fruit—a double-fruit! Second, we praise the Lord and so ready our mind with thoughts of possibilities. We may not see what lies ahead and what great consequence our relationships, occupations, and service in the church may have. Yet, in the fruitfulness of a praising life we will be prepared to enjoy what God has in store. The pesky squirrels do one thing right, the give opportunity to share what the wise tree anticipates. A year lived well will anticipate a plenteous harvest even circumstances may look otherwise. Let us prepare for grand things in the year ahead, even in the good fruit Christ bore in us through the previous season.

I look forward to worshiping with you on this first Sunday of the year—starting a fresh, new year of praise!

Pastor Chris