THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL FLOURISH AS A BRANCH

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

JUNE 23

 

Proverbs 11:28

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall:

but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

 
Such are the justified by the faith of Christ.
 
To them the Lord hath brought forth his righteousness, 

  in them the Lord hath put his Holy Spirit.
 
They are just before men, bringing forth the fruits of righteousness to the praise of his glory.
 
They are compared to a branch, which is untied to, and forms part of the parent tree.
 
So are they united to Jesus, and one with him.
 
All their support is from him, and they derive all their supplies from his fulness.
 
He is the source of their life, beauty, strength, and fruitfulness.
 
Apart from him they are barren, withered, and dead.
 
He supplies them secretly, as the tree does the branch with sap; 

   but he sheds on them also the dew of his grace, 

     and the showers of his blessing.
 
In consequence of this they grow, flourish, and bear fruit.
 
He prunes them by affiliations, but it is only that they may bring forth more fruit.
 
Autumnal winds may strip them, and wintry frosts may lay them bare,

 but their life is in the root,—hid with Christ in God.
 
See, beloved, the effect of union to Christ—we flourish.
 
The proof of a religious state.
 

The trees of righteousness shall rise,

Water’d each moment from above,

And bear the fruit of paradise,

The glorious fruits of faith and love.

 
James Smith