Be rooted and built up in Christ!

How are you enjoying our Sermons in the book of Colossians?

This Sunday we welcome Jean Pilbrow to bring us a message on chapter 2. Please come to Church with a mask (not mandated, but highly recommended!), and with open hearts, ready to hear what God wants to say to us through this passage.
 
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”

Here Paul reminds us that the Christian life continues the same way it begins, by faith in Jesus, and he gives us three practical ways to live continuously and successfully (faithfully) in Christ.

Firstly, we are to be rooted and built up in Christ. Picture, in your mind, a large tree that can withstand the wind, rain, and seasons of drought; it continues to flourish because of a strong root system which gives it stability and moisture from the ground.

In Psalm 1, David likens a person who delights in God, and flourishes in their relationship with Him and keeps his laws as a strong and prosperous tree. “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither whatever they do prospers”. So, let’s make sure our root system goes deep into his word each day so we can have strong deep roots.

Secondly, we are to be strengthened in faith.  Think of faith like a muscle that needs to be constantly exercised so that it will be strong, in shape and ready to withstand anything and everything.

In continuing with our example of a tree; faith is like the trunk of the tree that grow tall and strong over the years. It is the part of the tree that is exposed to the elements so it needs to be strong and able to withstand outside forces. It is also the part of the tree that never stops growing which means the trunk is the visible results of the depth of the root system.

Thirdly, we are to abound and overflow with thanksgiving and gratitude. This ought to be the natural over flow of someone who is deeply rooted and strong in faith. To visualize in terms of our tree, gratitude is like the leaves, a sign of the health of the tree. Without leaves, the trees look bare and dead; however even dead branches when trimmed give life to the whole. In the same way, a Christian living without thanksgiving and gratitude can appear severely damaged, while a life that overflows with gratitude shows maturity and health. So, try giving thanks to God for 5 things every day. See what a difference it makes!

A healthy tree image is a beautiful picture of the redeemed life; rooted, secure, strong, able, mature, complete and continually bringing glory to God through a life of gratitude.

May we each be likened to strong healthy tree’s as we continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

God be with you,

Rev. Tanya