Genesis 49:22: Fruitful.

‘Joseph is a fruitful vine,
    a fruitful vine near a spring,
    whose branches climb over a wall.” NIV

Joseph models for us the intensive and extensive life – one of depth and breadth. He was deeply, and securely, rooted in a refreshing relationship with God (see Genesis 1), and he bore fruit prolifically, even over the ‘’wall’’ – in the foreign country of Egypt. Someone noted that he was the founder of a tribe, ‘Ephraim’ (‘fruitful’) which grew and grew and could not be hemmed in.  With roots in God, no ‘walls’ can stand in the way of your godly influence.

This is a complete change of image, but, if you have a mobile phone, you will take it as a given that it requires constant re-charging. If it isn’t regularly replenished, it won’t be able to ‘give out’. So it is in the spiritual life: we must draw up nourishment in order to bless others.

PRAYER: Lord, please may my roots go deep in you, and may my life grow out in widespread, fruitful influence. May no ‘walls’ prevent the work you want to do through me.