READ: PSALMS 1:1-3; 92:12-15; ROMANS 4

Arbor Day has come around again, prompting us to take notice of an important part of God’s creation—trees! It’s good to appreciate all the good things trees provide us with, like clean air, food, wood, beauty, and shade. On a trip I took to southern California, I noticed that even in the desert, palm trees can flourish. As their spindly trunks stretch upward, their green fronds soak up sun rays. And where I live, cedar trees are slow but steady growers, persevering through countless storms that come their way. In fact, Psalm 92 recognizes the strength of these trees, saying that righteous people will flourish and remain steadfast like palm trees and cedars.

But what does it mean to be righteous? Righteousness simply means having a right relationship with God, and the Bible is clear about how this works. Romans 4:5 says, “People are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners” (NLT). How amazing is that? When we believe and put our trust in Jesus, who is God the Son, He puts the wrongdoings of our past behind us and welcomes us with open arms.

Moreover, as we grow in our relationship with God the Father, our behaviors and actions change. To go back to the previous analogy, we become like trees rooted in God’s goodness. As a result, we begin to bear the fruit of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT). In this, the psalmist’s words are fulfilled: “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him’” (Psalm 92:12-15, NIV). • Emma Schoessow

• We are saved by faith in Jesus’s death and resurrection, not by works. But as we learn to walk with the Holy Spirit, God will lead us to do good works. As Jesus says, “A good tree produces good fruit” (Matthew 7:17, NLT). If we embrace our right relationship with God by spending time in prayer, reading His Word, seeking relationship with His people (the church), and being obedient to His Holy Spirit, we will display the fruit of righteousness through what we do. Consider taking a moment to ask God to help you notice the ways He is inviting you to pursue His righteousness in your life. (Matthew 6:33)

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon. Psalm 92:12 (NIV)