HomeWord - June 30, 2015

Rooted in Christ

This devotional was written by Kelly McFadden

Let your roots flow 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 2:7 (NLT)

A friend sent a gift certificate for a plant nursery instructing me to pick out something special for the yard. Thrilled, I picked a special tree and followed the online tracking, awaiting delivery. When it arrived, the box seemed shockingly small. Peering inside I was even more surprised to find a six-inch tall tree. To be honest, it looked more like a branch that had lost its way… not a tree!

While I had not expected a full-grown Magnolia tree to arrive via mail, I felt disappointed by the tiny stem that sat waiting for planting. I joked with a friend and gardener about it, and he told me, “It’s the root system you are paying for. This will one day be a great tree.” Like a child, I wanted to skip some of the first steps of growth and jump straight into the splendor of maturity.

The Bible reminds us time after time to build a foundation in Christ. A deep-rooted foundation allows Christians to grow in God’s truth and deepen their faith. Without this foundation, it is impossible to stand strong. Diligently, my small tree will be watered and fed and in a few years, it will be ready to stand tall on its own.

It is important as followers of Christ to plant our roots deep in the truth of who Jesus is. When the storms of the world come blowing in, it can be easy to falter if our roots are shallow. When we are nurtured consistently by God’s truth, we too will become mature. When we face the storms of life, we may sway in the wind, but we will remain firmly planted. The way to grow, blossom, and live a mature life as a Christian is to carefully invest in your root system. Careful watering and feeding in God’s truth is what helps maintain a good foundation for our souls.

GOING DEEPER:

1. How is the root system of your faith? If you were to face a storm today, do you feel you would stand strong or topple over? Why?

2. What can you do today in order to feed and nourish your soul?

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 13:21; Psalm 1:1-3 

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