9 For surely your enemies, Lord,
surely your enemies will perish;
all evildoers will be scattered.
10 You have exalted my horn[b] like that of a wild ox;
fine oils have been poured on me.
11 My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries;
my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.
12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”
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What struck me in these verses today is the statement that the righteous will still bear fruit in old age. They are compared to a fruitful palm tree that stay fresh and green, flourishing the courts of God, and praising Him.
There is no retirement from bearing fruit for the Lord. As we age, we may change the type of activities we engage in, but the call to faithful living and fruit-bearing never changes. I think of those in our congregation who, despite growing older, are still serving in various ministry capacities. But I don’t mean to imply that the only way we bear fruit is when we are involved in organized church ministries. We are called to bear fruit in all of our relationships, in all of our actions, as we go about our daily lives.
So my prayer today is for those that I know who are in “old age,” that they find joy in the Lord as they bear fruit to His glory.
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