"take root downward and bear fruit upward" - Exodus 37:31

I'm so thankful that the LORD doesn't let me go, even when I am such a FOOL. Looking back on this semester, I have worshipped myself so much...I have expected people to meet my needs and pridefully written them off when they haven't, I've wallowed in self-pity, wanted Jesus but only for myself, rejected and pulled away from His body and community...all because I worship myself...I've been self-centered, self-exalting, self-pitying...and I've missed so much of Jesus! And yet, STILL, He calls me back??! I'm just so overwhelmed that THAT is the God who has saved me and called me...the One who redeems me and reveals Truth to me and is perfectly committed and faithful to me when I am in deep and complete rebellion against all that He is. I don't understand it, but I want it..."Repent and believe the gospel!" I want to walk in this truth, I want to go DEEP and allow Him to root out and expose even the darkest corners of my heart. It will probably be extremely uncomfortable and maybe even painful, but how does that even compare to getting more of THIS God?
I read this chapter today in Isaiah...the one before it was about the wrath of God, which is what I have earned and deserve, and lemme tell ya, it was scary as heck.But then this chapter came entitled "The Ransomed Shall Return." It's about God's redemption and ransom of His people, the same people who deserve and have earned His wrath. But He poured that out on Jesus...Jesus who took our place to bring us to God, to present us holy and blameless and above reproach before Him. And so we get this:

"The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, 'Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.' Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the jaunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall the ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." - Exodus 35

WOW. If that doesn't make you wanna go deep with the LORD and KNOW Him...simply because in Him there is life, He IS life; the ONLY life. And He requires and deserves my life and my worship and all glory. Exodus 37:31 says that His children will return to Him by taking "root downward" and bearing "fruit upward." We go deep in Him and surrender our hearts fully to Him, and root downward...that we may bring Him glory and send that fruit upward. 

I'm all in.