Roots and Storms
One thing is certain in life…storms will come. I don’t mean the ones that form in the Atlantic and end up in our back yards. I mean real “life” storms. The kind that appear out of nowhere and leave a trail of debris that we have no idea what to do with. Some pass quickly and don’t pack a lot of punch, but others are fierce and unrelenting. I’ve been through some. We all have. Maybe you’re going through one right now. If you are, there’s good news…it will pass. If you are at the point of clearing the debris and trying to put things back together, there’s good news for you too. God has not forgotten you!
My friends, there isn’t much we can do about the storms. They will come, but we can be ready for them. The way we respond to the storms of life will tell us a lot about what we believe about God. What or whom are you grounded to? How healthy are your spiritual roots and how deep do they go? Maybe you’ve never thought about these questions, but they are important. I’d like to share a passage of scripture with you that deals with the reality of storms in life and how we are to be rooted in Christ for our survival.
The passage I’d like to comment on is found in Colossians 2:6-7. It says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” In these verses we find the Apostle Paul addressing the believers who belonged to the church in Colosse. He fills these two verses with simple instructions that will help them weather the storms that will undoubtedly come. These instructions are just as much for us today as they were for the Colossian believers. Let’s see what he told them.
1. Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him.
Paul assumes that the readers of this letter are believers. He says, “Just as you received Him.” And how did they receive Him? I think we can conclude that Paul had something to do with their hearing of the Gospel and the starting of a local church in Colosse. They heard the message of Jesus and decided to place threir faith in Him alone for salvation. In essence, they entrusted their entire lives to Jesus. It was completely by faith. Jesus had already died on the cross and risen from the grave, but they believed the message and dedicated their lives to following His way of living. I don’t know if you have received Him or not. I pray you have, but if not, this is where the roots begin. If you have not come to a point in your life where you have made a decision to entrust your entire life to Jesus by placing your faith in Him alone for salvation, then, unfortunately, you are like a tree without roots just waiting to be destroyed. If you know that you haven’t made that decision, then I plead with you to NOT wait another minute. Take a moment to talk to God. Let Him know that you agree that you need forgiveness for your sin. let Him know that you can’t live correctly without Him. Invite Him to come into your life and establish strong spiritual roots. Commit to following Him and His plans for your life.
2. Paul tells the Colossians to continue to live in Him.
There are no days off for a Christian. We can’t be part-time believers. It’s just way too risky. The storms of life come without warning. If we are not continuously nourishing our spiritual roots we run the risk of being uprooted at the slightest wind that blows our way. Just like roots on a tree, we must be in a constant state of growth and expansion. In this way the storms of life cannot knock us down. They may break some branches or knock off some leaves, but we will remain standing. So…how do we continue to live in Him? Find a church family that will help nourish your roots. Spend time reading the Bible and strengthening your own roots. Spend time in prayer daily. This will build your faith. Share with others what Jesus is doing in your life. All of these things and more will help you conitnue to live in Him.
3. Another thing Paul tells the Colossians to do is to be rooted and built up in Him.
What happens if you plant a tree in soft soil or sand? What if it is planted in shallow ground? Can the roots expand and grow like they should? Of course they can’t! In the same way, you cannot rely on shallow ground to be enough. Your spiritual roots must have good, deep, fertile soil to become strong and healthy. Where is this type of ground located? It is found in Jesus. He is to be our source of life and spiritual nourishment. Without Him we can do nothing. Without Him we are vulnerable in the path of violent storms. It is also essential that we find a good church home where we can settle in and allow our roots to expand as far as God wants them to. Sitting in a church service once a week to listen to a sermon and then go home is not enough nourishment for your roots. This is why it is important to be involved in some kind of small group Bible study or accountability group as well. Christianity is lived Monday through Saturday. It is celebrated on Sundays!
4. He also instructs the Colossians to be strengthened in the faith as they were taught.
As we grow down deeper in Christ, our faith becomes rooted. This will cause us to stand firm in His truth and not be moved; we will not be shaken. We must learn to soak in all that He has. The Bible tells us in Romans 10:17 that faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. We must make the effort to find out what Christ has said in His Word. His Word is the pure water that will travel through our roots to nourish the rest of the tree and make it flourish and bear fruit…even during the storms.
5. Last , but not least, Paul instructs the Colossians to be overflowing with thankfulness.
It’s not easy to be thankful sometimes, especially when you’re in the middle of a storm. I know it’s a cliche’, but we must count our blessings. Regardless of what you are going through, it can always be worse. Take the time to thank God for His mercy and grace. Thank Him for His provision even though you don’t serve Him as you should. Thank Him for always doing what is best for you. Thank Him for never leaving you nor forsaking you. Thank Him for love, family, laughter, friends, and pillows. And thank Him for the storms because they usually blow away all the unnecessary stuff. Thank Him for the hard times because they make us appreciate the good times. Thank Him for the tough times because they draw us closer to Him; because they strengthen our roots.
I will leave you with this Psalm…
Psalm 1:1-6
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
