Deep Roots
Colossians 2:6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Yesterday Andra and I saw a tree that was leaning very dangerously over the other lane of traffic opposite from ours. We both commented, “It looks like the roots have given way on that one side and it is going to fall very soon.” Whoever is under that tree when it falls is going to be injured very seriously because trees are heavy!! Trees give out great shade, provide much-needed oxygen for humans, and look beautiful in the spring and in the fall, but they can kill you if one falls on you. A good strong tree is a testimony to God’s greatness and a good example of the Christian walk. A good strong, growing Christian is a beautiful example of God’s grace, but a disobedient one can kill everything they touch.
As written in the above verses, Paul is agonizing over this group of believers and wants to teach them to find their roots in Christ Jesus. In verse 1-3 Paul further reveals his heartfelt desire for them. I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. 2 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. 3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
So we have some great instructions from The Apostle Paul and here is a brief summary of those instructions.
Be encouraged – We desperately need to encourage each other in the faith and the strength of that encouragement will help us grow in our Christian walk.
Be knit together – Our connectivity is a central need for developing a loving, caring fellowship that grows all who are involved. Paul further emphasizes this truth in Philippians 2: 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. We are to be unified in all areas and that comes many times from bowing our wants to be more connected with others as a central, bonded group of people.
Love is the tie that binds – The strong ties of love that Paul mentions are only developed over time as we serve together in the central goal of sharing the gospel and making disciples.
Build our lives on Christ – In verse 6 Paul helps us realize that we must live in the joy of our salvation and that joy compels us to serve Christ with a fresh heart every moment of every day.
The Result is a Strong Faith – Out of all of these actions, we will see a strong faith take its place in our lives and a heart of thankfulness for that faith will surface and the end result will be personal growth.
The instructions are clear and the end result is what God wants for our lives, but we must rely on the Word of God and the instructions this Living Word gives us. Read it more and you will find answers to “every” question you have about LIFE.
The pilgrimage continues…
David Warren