Today’s Devotion
Topic: Taking Roots Below To Bear Fruits Above!
Text: 2 Kings 19: 29- 30
“29 This will be the sign for you, Hezekiah: “This year you will eat what grows by itself, and the second year what springs from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 30 Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. Amen
When Sennacherib, king of Assyria besieged Jerusalem and sent letters to Hezekiah insulting the nation and their God, the latter entered the temple and spread the letters before God and cried out for mercy. The word of the Lord came to comfort Hezekiah and assured the nation of Israel that God was on their side.
The evidence of the Lord’s assurance is what has been summarized in 2 Kings 19: 29 – 31. It explains that for two years, Judah was going to eat what grows by itself; divine provision from the natural; abundant food that did not require planting. However, the third year was going to be a season of sowing and reaping; they had to take roots below and bear fruits above.
Beloved, taking roots below signifies the effort and hard work we put into life. Those virtuous but painstaking things we do far from the eyes of those around us to achieve higher blessings with time.
It includes our intimacy with the Lord through fervent prayer, Bible study, fasting, righteous living etc. It also means intense studies for students, working extra mile for workers, saving and investing some of today’s income for tomorrow, training your children in the Lord etc. Literally, going beyond the ordinary to create a firm base for greater success.
When the roots below are solid, the fruits above are bigger, fresher, tastier, more useful and of higher value. So don’t just fold your arms waiting for natural provision to fall right in front of you. For all you know, those two years where you eat what grows by itself are over. This is the season for sowing and reaping! PLANT YOUR OWN VINEYARD AND EAT ITS FRUIT. TAKE ROOT BELOW, AND BEAR FRUITS ABOVE.
Don’t waste your time worrying about the threats of Sennacherib. God will deal with Him. “This is what the LORD says concerning the king of Assyria: “’He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with shield or build a siege ramp against it. 33 By the way that he came he will return; he will not enter this city, declares the LORD. 34 I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.’” (2 Kings 19: 32- 34).
So the enemy has failed. Take God by His word and begin to pray. Desire strong roots in the things of God and also in those important areas of life. Ask for the grace and discipline to pay the price and remain firmly rooted so that you can yield amazing fruits and successes to the glory of our Lord. Take root below and you will definitely bear fruits above.
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