So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7
Good managers will take someone that works for them and train them how to take their place. The apprentice will be trained in how to do nearly every aspect of the business.
This is something that does not occur overnight, but over time. He is rooted and built up in what to do or not do.
Paul acknowledges that the people had accepted Christ Jesus as Lord. Now he encourages them to live their lives in Him and to have a foundation in Him while being built up in faith with thankfulness.
While many people will choose to believe in Jesus as Savior, many will choose also to not continue to live in Him and grow in Him. Some will hold to once saved, always saved and do not need to do anything more. Others will go back to, or continue to, live in sinful lifestyles, rather than changing.
Believers are living beings, so they must be rooted and growing. Without roots in Jesus or growth, they are dead. It is as though they never believed.
Living in Jesus means that one is constantly learning more on how to live for and like Jesus in every area of his life. It is learning to choose to turn away from all temptation to sin. It is learning to trust God more and more in the same way as Jesus did. The stronger the root, the more one can be built up and the more fruit one will be able to produce.
And all of this is done with an overflow of being thankful to God for what He has done.
Since you have chosen to believe in Jesus, allow yourself to grow in Him by constantly living in Him. Learn what it means to live as Jesus lived. Allow your faith in God to grow and be strengthened.
Put down deep roots in Jesus, so that when the temptations and struggles of life come your way, you will be able to withstand them with thanksgiving and grow even more. Do not allow yourself to go back to the old way of living in sin and death, but be the new creation God made you to be.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior and Lord; that you will be rooted in Jesus; that you will be more like Jesus everyday; that your faith in God will be strengthened; and that you will be full of thankfulness to God for what He has done and is doing in your life.
Thank you Tom for the good Word and insight. 🙏
You welcome and thank you for reading. Have a blessed day in our Lord Jesus Christ
Rooted and grounded in Christ like oaks of righteousness! What an awesome word.
Tom, the picture reminds me of a conversation I had a few years back. Several ppl’s trees in a small gated area were dying quickly. A person of knowledge was asked about it. They people were told it was Oak Wilt. I spoke with a man who was a Professional Tree Trimmer asking about this. His answer spoke volumes.
He said, “there is no oak wilt in this area, they are pouring deep beds around these trees and suffocating their roots.” Wow I know you caught the picture too. Blessings my brother!
Thank you. To God be all the glory.
I love your illustration on the tree roots being suffocated.
Thank you for reading and the comment. Have a blessed day in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.