Rooted Downward, Fruitful Upward
“And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward. For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” Isaiah 37:31-32
In Isaiah 37, we witness God’s deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian siege—a moment of divine rescue for a remnant that was faithful to Him. The promise in verses 31-32 speaks of restoration: the remnant of Judah will take root downward and bear fruit upward.
While this prophecy addresses Israel’s future prosperity, it carries a timeless principle for Christians today, namely, to bear fruit for God’s kingdom, we must be deeply rooted in Christ, His love, and His Word.
Jesus Himself taught, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:7-8). Just as a tree draws nourishment from deep roots to produce fruit, we must anchor ourselves in Christ. This means immersing ourselves in Scripture, where God’s truth takes root in our hearts, shaping our identity and purpose. Psalm 1 shows us that God doesn’t just bless Bible readers; He blesses Bible meditators and they bear fruit. On a recent radio program, speaking on the value of journaling, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth emphasized that journaling and interacting with Scripture is more than a discipline—it’s a conversation with God, a way to internalize His Word and let it transform us.
Tim Keller described prayer as “answering God,” responding to His revelation as we meditate on Scripture and obey it by faith. When we abide in Christ through prayer and His Word, we find our identity secure in Him. This rootedness produces joy unspeakable (1 Peter 1:8), a joy that doesn’t depend on circumstances or entertainment but flows from knowing Christ deeply.
Sadly, many modern churches have drifted toward what some call the “youth groupization” of church—prioritizing entertainment over substance. A viral video of a pastor riding a roller coaster on a church stage to illustrate a sermon exemplifies this trend. While serving God with grace filled efforts and excellence in ministry are valuable, as Paul demonstrated in Colossians 1:29, the goal is not to cater to a consumer-driven crowd. Over a century ago, the great preacher Charles Spurgeon prophetically warned:
John MacArthur, who recently went to be with the Lord, wisely shared this concern, advising pastors:
When churches focus on entertainment—fog machines, concert-style performances, or spectacle—they may attract crowds but fail to nurture disciples rooted in Christ. As a result, many Christians remain spiritually shallow, bored in church, and disengaged, often because they lack a personal, vibrant relationship with Jesus. When congregants don’t sing with lifted voices, something I often observe, it may reflect hearts not rooted in worship but expecting to be served or entertained.
Paul’s aim in Colossians 1:28-29 was to “present everyone mature in Christ,” laboring with God’s energy to see believers grow in faith. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in us—love, joy, peace, and more (Galatians 5:22-23)—but we have a part to play. By rooting ourselves in Christ through prayer, Scripture, and obedience, we grow in maturity and bear fruit that glorifies God. When we gather for worship, it’s not to be performed to but to actively participate—lifting our voices in praise, engaging with the Word, and serving one another out of love for Jesus.
A church rooted in Christ doesn’t need gimmicks to draw a crowd. Its people come to worship, not to be catered to, because they’ve found the surpassing joy of knowing Him. As Isaiah 37:32 declares, “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” Our fruitfulness depends on God’s power, but we must choose to sink our roots deep into Him.
In Isaiah 37, we witness God’s deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian siege—a moment of divine rescue for a remnant that was faithful to Him. The promise in verses 31-32 speaks of restoration: the remnant of Judah will take root downward and bear fruit upward.
While this prophecy addresses Israel’s future prosperity, it carries a timeless principle for Christians today, namely, to bear fruit for God’s kingdom, we must be deeply rooted in Christ, His love, and His Word.
Jesus Himself taught, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:7-8). Just as a tree draws nourishment from deep roots to produce fruit, we must anchor ourselves in Christ. This means immersing ourselves in Scripture, where God’s truth takes root in our hearts, shaping our identity and purpose. Psalm 1 shows us that God doesn’t just bless Bible readers; He blesses Bible meditators and they bear fruit. On a recent radio program, speaking on the value of journaling, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth emphasized that journaling and interacting with Scripture is more than a discipline—it’s a conversation with God, a way to internalize His Word and let it transform us.
Tim Keller described prayer as “answering God,” responding to His revelation as we meditate on Scripture and obey it by faith. When we abide in Christ through prayer and His Word, we find our identity secure in Him. This rootedness produces joy unspeakable (1 Peter 1:8), a joy that doesn’t depend on circumstances or entertainment but flows from knowing Christ deeply.
Sadly, many modern churches have drifted toward what some call the “youth groupization” of church—prioritizing entertainment over substance. A viral video of a pastor riding a roller coaster on a church stage to illustrate a sermon exemplifies this trend. While serving God with grace filled efforts and excellence in ministry are valuable, as Paul demonstrated in Colossians 1:29, the goal is not to cater to a consumer-driven crowd. Over a century ago, the great preacher Charles Spurgeon prophetically warned:
“A time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the church will have clowns entertaining the goats.”
Sadly, this critique resonates loudly today, as many churches prioritize breadth over depth.
John MacArthur, who recently went to be with the Lord, wisely shared this concern, advising pastors:
“You take care of the depth of your ministry, and God will take care of the breadth.”
When churches focus on entertainment—fog machines, concert-style performances, or spectacle—they may attract crowds but fail to nurture disciples rooted in Christ. As a result, many Christians remain spiritually shallow, bored in church, and disengaged, often because they lack a personal, vibrant relationship with Jesus. When congregants don’t sing with lifted voices, something I often observe, it may reflect hearts not rooted in worship but expecting to be served or entertained.
Paul’s aim in Colossians 1:28-29 was to “present everyone mature in Christ,” laboring with God’s energy to see believers grow in faith. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in us—love, joy, peace, and more (Galatians 5:22-23)—but we have a part to play. By rooting ourselves in Christ through prayer, Scripture, and obedience, we grow in maturity and bear fruit that glorifies God. When we gather for worship, it’s not to be performed to but to actively participate—lifting our voices in praise, engaging with the Word, and serving one another out of love for Jesus.
A church rooted in Christ doesn’t need gimmicks to draw a crowd. Its people come to worship, not to be catered to, because they’ve found the surpassing joy of knowing Him. As Isaiah 37:32 declares, “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” Our fruitfulness depends on God’s power, but we must choose to sink our roots deep into Him.