And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 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.”
Colossians 2:6-7
I’m going to talk about thankfulness but I want to start with the foundations of that thankfulness.
Phil spoke recently about the cedars of Lebanon I want to speak on the Oaks or righteousness.
At a recent prayer meeting I felt the Holy Spirit give me a picture of an acorn with the germination of the roots.
At the beginning of an oaks life, when an acorn first sprouts, most of its energy is spent on root development. The initial root is the taproot, which grows deep underground, seeking a dependable supply of moisture. Once this is accomplished, greater foliage and branch growth can begin. Soon the taproot is surpassed by an extensive root system spreading horizontally. This lateral mass of roots will bring the tree moisture and nutrients for its lifetime.
Trees can even share the root systems that have grafted together.
If an oak is not in a site with adequate drainage, the balance of moisture air and nutrients is upset. Overwatering can smother the roots and lead to crown or root rot. If the roots are concreted over it will damage the roots.
There is such a clear parallel to me between our spiritual lives and the oak.
The reason we are looking at Colossians is to encourage all of us to deepen our roots into Christ.
Like the oak we need the water of the Spirit and the nutrients of the word of God to grow and thrive, the develop growth and be able to stand when the winds of life blow. Sometimes they blow hard and other times they could uproot us.
We have received Christ now we need to know him and know him more day by day by day. Dig into scripture. Talk to the Holy Spirit. Listen to teaching that is grace centred and ask to be prayed for at every opportunity. I have said it before but the Holy Spirit once said to me “every time I touch you I bring life”.
Let’s look at a great Psalm to help us.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.””
Psalms 46:1-4, 7, 10
Questions
Having a big and real life vision of Jesus is worthy of thankfulness. As we search deeper, we will find a new aspect of Jesus that amazes us of the enormity of God and his creation.
Let us overflow with thankfulness.