“Spiritual Cedar” is October 25’s entry from Dr. David Jeremiah’s ‘Turning Points with God: 365 Daily Devotions’ (2014).
"The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon."
Psalm 92:12
Sadly, the majestic cedar trees of Lebanon are few and far between today compared to how they covered the mountains in biblical times. They did not grow in Israel, but only in the higher elevations to the north. They grew straight and strong, up to ninety feet tall, and could live for three thousand years. And they were highly prized for building. King David lived in a cedar palace, and Solomon contracted with Tyre to bring great rafts of cedar logs, with which to build the Temple, down the Mediterranean coast.
Lebanon cedars are a perfect analogy for the growth of the righteous. First, they must have the right conditions. And when they do, they grow slowly, stand up straight against the elements of the world, and become highly prized for their usefulness. Such are the elements of spiritual growth. If you are growing spiritually, it is because you have put yourself in the right environment, you are strong enough to resist the world, and you are being used by God. If not, it may be time for a change.
Like a cedar, growth for a Christian is normal and is to be expected, with the ultimate result of being valuable in service.
To end, a quote from George MacDonald, “All growth that is not towards God is growing to decay.”
