How to stand tall against the forces coming against you.
The majestic redwood trees along the California coast and southern Oregon are impressive. Their monumental size and number are glorious when viewed from the ground up. For example, the world’s tallest known living tree, Hyperion in California, comes in at about 380.3 ft (115.92 m). Another impressive fact is that the oldest living coast, redwood is at least 2,200 years old by some estimates.
These trees are also highly resistant to insects, fire, and rot. In addition, multiple animals and species nest in these trees for protection. However, redwood trees don’t live long due to their usefulness, size, and resiliency. They stand the test of time due to one crucial fact.
One would think that redwood trees would have deep and long roots from their size. But instead, redwood roots are very shallow, often only five or six feet deep. However, what they lack in depth, they make up for in width, as their roots sometimes extend up to 100 feet from the trunk. As a result, these roots will intertwine and “fuse” with other redwoods nearby.
As a result, these groves form “communities” of redwoods that provide one another a collective strength and resiliency to potential and destructive forces. In addition, this community also “feeds” one another as they can make rain out of the fog! The moisture in the air condenses between the leaves and eventually drips down to the root zone.
The unique creation of God is an excellent reminder of how we, too, can grow, draw strength and feed each other when in community with fellow believers. God calls us to be in a community because He gifts us individually to share those gifts collectively. For this reason, you should be in a small group with other men. It’s the only way you will stand tall against the forces coming against you.
Daily Directive:
Answer and Journal the Following
FAITH
Pray:
First pray for insight and understanding of God’s word. Then and most importantly, how to apply it.
Read:
1 Corinthians 1:4-10
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
FIRE
Echo:
Contemplate and meditate on or memorize the passage. What is God saying to you?
Show:
How will you apply this to your life ?
FURY
Share:
How will you share this with others?
biblebrotherhoodChristChristian menGodGod's wordmenperseveranceredwoodSpiritstand tallstormsstrengthtrust
