Meet "The Live Oak"

You may not know this, but there are different kinds of oak trees. Most of us are familiar with the tall towering oaks like we see in North Carolina and other places. But for those of you who have lived or visited deeper parts of the southeast like South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, you will no doubt be familiar with "The Live Oak."

As you notice from the picture, instead of growing vertically tall, the Live Oak grows horizontally. This particular oak was the oldest tree at Fort Frederica, which is the place where John and Charles Wesley landed, from England, to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to America. This particular tree was over 200 years old and planted at the end of the American Revolutionary War. Live Oaks grow for 100 years, remain the same for another 100 years, and die for the final 100 years by rotting from the inside out. They are typically covered with Spanish moss, which is not Spanish nor is it moss. :>) It is actually a plant that draws its nutrients from the air we breathe. I grew up around the Live Oak all my child-hood life. I grew up climbing all over these trees while at the same time, the oak and moss were climbing all into my soul. :>) There is something special to me about the Live Oak!

I think we can learn a few points of discipleship from this special tree. Here is what the Lord spoke to me yesterday as Amy Lynn and I walked this historic fort.

Like the Live Oak, Christian discipleship always involves growing horizontally in love and fellowship with other believers and non-believers. There are too many "Lone Ranger" versions of Christianity out there and yet the truth is none of them are faithful to the Word of God. No man or woman is an island unto him/herself. We all know to grow vertically toward God but how are you growing horizontally toward other people? How is your heart toward people far from God? How is your heart toward people who are different from you? How is your heart toward other believers in your Small Group?

Secondly, the Live Oak reminds me of something I want to prevent and stay away from in my life, namely rotting death from the inside out. The reason it is hard to know the exact age of the Live Oak is because they rot for the final 100 years, from the inside out so that one cannot study the rings to determine age. I have known my fair share of people who were dying from the inside out because they were not willing to practice spiritual disciplines of bible study, prayer, fasting, solitude, and fellowship with other believers through Small/discipleship Groups. John Wesley used to ask his preachers, "How is your soul?" It is imperative that we pay attention to the inner life of our soul. If we do not do the hard work of caring for our souls, we inevitably die/rot from the inside out.

I find it incredibly interesting that the Word of the Lord, when discussing those who grow in righteousness, says this:

"They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." (Isaiah 61:3)

As I walked in the footsteps of John and Charles Wesley yesterday, these are the thoughts that came to mind as I studied the Live Oak. I hope it blesses you this day and I pray you become that "Oak of righteousness" the Lord talked about in Isaiah 61:3.

Peace...


PS - Stay tuned, I will post later about the BIG game Saturday. Remember, the person who picks the winning team and exact score gets a $50 gift certificate to your restaurant of choice. Stay tuned.