I made one of those last-minute trips to Walmart on Christmas Eve to pick up something for my wife. As I was entering the store I noticed one real Christmas tree left for sale by the door. Many of its needles were gone, a branch was sagging, and the tree was not very symmetrical. I also saw that the price had been reduced to $1. The tree was beaten up broken and not worth much. Do you feel that way as the old year comes to a close? Have certain trials left you stripped of courage, empty of joy and broken in spirit?
I am thankful that our Lord is in the business of restoration. As the new year dawns our Lord desires to replace our brokenness with healing and our discouragement with joy. The psalmist tells us in Psalm 1:1-3: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper”. God is in the business of planting His trees by the rivers of water and causing us to be fruitful. He also loves to see us green and growing and prospering. He tells us that we can have a fresh start, a new beginning. The passage tells us that if we walk away from a sinful lifestyle and delight in and meditate on the Word of God, we will experience God’s hand of blessing upon our lives.
We may feel like the last tree on the lot, but I am so thankful that Jesus purchased our beat up, broken, and worthless life by His own blood. He then transplants us by the rivers of His grace. May we grow as strong and fruitful trees in this new year.