January 18th, 2019

        Rooted in the Word (Colossians 2:7)
 
Colossians 2:7, Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
 
Paul uses the words rooted, built up, stablished, and abounding to describe how we grow in Christ. We are rooted in Him. We are not spiritual “tumbleweeds,” having no roots and being blown around by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). What determines the height and strength of a tree is the depth of its roots! The same is true in our Christian lives. The degree of our spiritual growth is determined by the depth of our spiritual roots in Christ.
 
The Christian walk must be “rooted” and “built up” to endure. The word picture goes back to the parable of the sower. Jesus spoke of the importance of the root system when the Word is spoken and spread. Matthew 13:3-8, And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Faith which is firmly rooted in sound doctrine is vital to the survival and success in the Christian life.
 
The Alpine tundra located in the Rockies is a type of natural region or biome that does not contain trees because it is at high altitude. The high altitude causes an adverse climate, which is too cold and windy to support tree growth. However, there a flower of minute size and breath-taking beauty which can thrive and survive these harsh conditions. The source of this tiny plants survival and success is due to its three-foot-long root!
 
On that mountain tundra, the wind blows hard and relentlessly, and the snow is deep and long lasting. But that tiny flower is firmly anchored, allowing it to burst forth in glory each spring. In the same way, may the flower of our soul have such a deep anchor in God and His Word. Just what is involved in a “root” that stabilizes and provides nourishment for the seed of the Gospel in the human heart? Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus in Ephesians 3:17, That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,.
 
To grow in Christ we must be built up in him. This process is called sanctification, in which we become more and more like Jesus. When you begin construction of a building, you know from the start what you want it to look like when it is completed. Each of us is a spiritual building under construction that begins at salvation and continues for the rest of our lives. God knows the end result of what He is constructing in our lives. One day, we will all be complete.
 
The lesson in botany teaches us to read God's Word slowly, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, word by word, letting it sink deeply into our minds and hearts. It is like the root that little alpine flower puts down to survive on the tundra. Fervent love for God’s Word and for the work of the ministry is crucial for success. When we meditate on God's Word and His work in the world around us, we lengthen the root of our soul into the life-giving soil of God's superior goodness.
 
Prayer, Lord, Help me to truthfully analyze every part of my life in order to see what areas need to be more deeply rooted in You. I want my roots to go down so deeply that no storms of life and no attacks from the devil will be able to move me from the place where You have called me. Help me to stay so fixed, firm, strong, and stable that once I enter the fruit-producing season, I will never leave it! In Jesus name, Amen.
 
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