In the journey of producing godly fruit, the metaphor of roots is vital to our spiritual growth. Jesus teaches in John 15 that God desires us to bear much fruit, which we can only achieve by remaining in Him, the Vine, an extension of the roots. As Colossians 2:7 states, we are rooted and built up in Him, with Christ and the Father as our source of strength, stability, and resources. The Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23 illustrates that strong, deep roots are essential to withstand adversity, such as blazing sun or violent winds, ensuring we do not wither under pressure. Like the deeply-rooted tree in Jeremiah 17:7-8, we thrive by trusting in the LORD, drawing sustenance even in drought through our connection to the Source of living water. The growth of roots, however, is a slow and often unseen process. A striking example is a variety of Chinese bamboo that, after being planted, shows only a small shoot for five years despite diligent care. During this time, no visible growth occurs above ground, yet an extensive root structure develops beneath the surface. After five years, the bamboo suddenly surges, growing from a tiny shoot to over 80 feet tall in just six weeks. This mirrors our spiritual journey, where growth in our connection with God may not be immediately apparent, but it is happening. Even when we feel discouraged by a lack of visible progress, if we abide in Him and persevere in cultivating our relationship with God, growth is taking place, and in due time, we will bear fruit to glorify Him.

We must strive towards righteousness, especially when we realize that God has a special place for us in His plan. Because of this, we ought not have an inflated ego, nor should we allow ourselves to go to the opposite extreme and think of ourselves as worthless. Beginning in Psalm 92, we can compare the unique characteristics of the palm and cedar trees to righteous members of God's church. Like steadfast faith, the palm tree grows and form rings in a unique way that enables it to withstand winds from any direction. The cedar tree grows strong and withstands external threats, as well as internal rot as from coming from insects and molds, which our faith should also try to emulate. These lead to a proper attitude toward humility as we recognize what we mean to God but not let ourselves get arrogant and complete our function in the church—no matter where we are placed. We also should not "invite Satan to sit at our table" and think of ourselves as worthless but realize we have a special place in God's plan.