Johnny Appleseed

Johnny Appleseed is a folk hero based on frontier nurseryman John Chapman, who established orchards throughout the American West. John Chapman was born on Leominster, Massachusetts in 1774. The trees that Chapman planted were not for eating.  They were tart and used primarily to make hard cider. Chapman spread his faith while traveling to establish orchards.  He preached to everyone he met along the way.  Johnny Appleseed planted apple trees everywhere he went.

In Israel at one time, the farmers were taxed according to the number of trees they had.  To get around this, the farmers cut all the trees down. Over the years, Israel became a dry barren land.  Today, farmers are planting more trees and pruning them so they grow roots down into the soil.  For every million trees planted, they tell me the average yearly rainfall is increased by one inch.  There are parts of Israel today that are green and plush.

In John 15, Jesus referred to similar farming tactics when He said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (vv. 1-2). When we delight in His law, however meditating on it day and night, we are “like a tree planted by streams of water” (Psalm 1:3) Pruned and planted in Him, we are revived and thriving.

God wants us to be more fruitful.  We need to ask God to prune us so we can be more fruitful.  God wants us to be revived and to thrive. Follow the example of Jesus everyday so you can be like a tree planted by streams of water!

Prayer – O God, I yield my stunted places to Your pruning and watering so I can grow green and be fruitful. I offer my life to you, who gave your only Son to die for my sins, so we can all live eternally.  Amen.

Psalm 1:3 –That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season.

Author: Tommy Herndon