Colossians: Rooted and Built Up in ChristSample

Rooted in Christ

One day while visiting family, I went for a run and came upon a park covered in plants with a lavender bloom. At one end of the park was a sign that detailed several local plants and their unique root systems. What caught my attention about the sign was the description of one of the plants called the Rough Blazing Star, which had a root system almost 15 feet underground and was three times as deep as any of the other plants. Its deep root system stood in stark contrast to the Kentucky Blue Grass - only inches deep - commonly found in the area. The depth of the Rough Blazing Star's roots provided access to water far below the surface, helping to sustain it during long seasons of drought. Additionally, in seasons of heavy rain, its deep roots kept the plants from being washed away.

As I stood there reading about the native prairie plants, I couldn't help but be reminded of Paul's words in his letter to the church at Colossae when he said, "Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude." (See Colossians 2:6-7) The phrase, "having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith," that Paul uses in this text points to the work that God has already done and is continuing to do in the life of the believer who has, "received Christ Jesus as Lord." One commentary suggests that these verses, "emphasize that believers can live lives that exemplify the Lordship of Christ only by remaining, like branches, firmly attached to the vine in which God has himself placed them (see John 15) and by continuing to allow God to integrate them, like stones, into the new structure that is nothing other than Christ himself."

In Ephesians 3:16-17, Paul echoes a similar message when he wrote, "I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love."

Like the Rough Blazing Star, as we continue to live our lives in Christ, our roots will grow deeper and deeper, allowing us to remain in Him during long seasons of drought or heavy rain.

But what does it look like to continue to live our lives in Christ, rooted and built up in him? Over the next few days, we will wrestle with this question as we explore three examples that Paul points to in his letter to the church at Colossae.