Rooted and built up in him
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”Colossians 2:6-7
Reflection
Paul writes to the Colossians, who were surrounded by seductive teachings that said Christ was important but not enough. His answer begins with a sentence of continuity: "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him." How did the Colossians receive Christ? By grace, by faith, without merit. Then that is how they should keep walking. One does not begin the Christian life by grace only to go on by one's own effort. We begin in Christ and continue in Him, in the same way.
Next, Paul uses four images: "rooted", "built up", "stablished in the faith" and "abounding therein with thanksgiving". Roots lie under the ground, hidden, and it is they that hold up the tree when the wind blows. A tree with shallow roots may look beautiful, but falls in the first storm. The image of the building speaks of a foundation on which one builds. And "stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught" reminds us that doctrine matters: firm faith rests on truths known and received.
How do roots deepen? Not all at once. They grow slowly, toward the water, and it is in seasons of drought that they stretch deepest. Difficulties can deepen our faith when we go through them together with God. They also grow through simple and constant practices: Word, prayer, fellowship, obedience day by day. No one sees what happens under the ground, but it is what decides what appears above. There is no use in hurry: a strong root takes time.
And the verse ends with the fruit: "abounding therein with thanksgiving". A person well rooted in Christ overflows with gratitude, regardless of circumstances. This week, choose a practice that deepens your roots, such as reading a passage of the Bible each day, and write down every night three reasons for thanks. You will notice that gratitude is a thermometer: when it grows, it is a sign of healthy roots. Keep walking in Christ as you received Him, with trust and simplicity, and your life will become ever firmer.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for receiving me by grace. Help me walk in You in the same way. Deepen my roots, build me up in You and establish me in the faith. May my life overflow with thanksgiving, whatever the circumstances. Amen.
Put it into practice
Choose a practice to deepen your roots this week (reading a passage of the Bible each day, for example) and write down, every night, three reasons for thanks.
To reflect on
What simple and constant practice could deepen your roots in Christ, and what fruit of gratitude do you already notice in your life?
Bible text: King James Version (public domain).