Henry Longfellow was "on in years" and his hair was white, but he remained a vigorous man. When someone asked him the secret of his energetic life, Longfellow pointed to an apple tree in bloom and said, "That tree is very old, but I never saw prettier blossoms on it than it now bears. That tree grows new wood each year. Like that apple tree, I try to grow a little new wood each year".
Like the apple tree, so is God's design for those He loves. Even though the years go by and our bodies take a toll, our souls have the capacity for unending renewal. The apostle Paul found his motivation for growing "new wood" in his relationship to Jesus Christ, through reading, renewing his mind, accepting life's trials as part of the good that God was continually working out in his life, and holding to his confidence in Christ. Paul best expressed the hope in his soul when he wrote "Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16).
Today let us have the vision of Longfellow and the heart of Paul, holding to the confidence in knowing that each day brings renewal to those who are growing in Jesus Christ.
