Deep Roots

Colossians 2:6-7 "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."

"Root, in botany, that part of a plant normally underground. Its primary functions are anchorage of the plant, absorption of water and dissolved minerals and conduction of these to the stem, and storage of reserve foods."  Written by The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica

Our spiritual roots (faith) serve a similar purpose. First, they are hidden deep within our hearts. They are protected by the Holy Spirit like a plants roots are usually hidden/protected underground. 

Also, like a plants roots, which can be eaten away by bugs or suffer rotting, our roots are attacked by the enemy daily. He tries to kill our faith in and understanding of God.  If given opportunity and free reign he will destroy our root system and kill our spiritual life. 

To continue, our spiritual roots anchor us in Christ. When the storms of life billow and rage all around us our faith can remain strong and our hope secure. Hebrews 6:18-19 "So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary."

Another job of our root system is to absorb nourishment. Our spirits communicate with the Holy Spirit and are nourished by him. They also absorb the Word that we read and the truths from it that are revealed to us through Bible study, sermons, words from others, T. V., etc. 

There are many sources for nourishment, however, it is our job to seek the counsel of the Spirit and dig into the Word to determine if the "food" we have taken in is sound and in agreement with the Word of God. Like a plants roots, if we "feed" on unsound doctrine, our spirits will suffer decay and loss. This could lead to our spiritual death if it goes unchecked. 

The final job of our roots is to store up reserved food. There are times when life gets busy, storms rage, or we are unable to access our sources of spiritual food. If we have absorbed the Word and made it part of our DNA through constant use and memorization we will be able to draw upon it in tough times. 

There are believers in other parts of the world who are unable to go to church, watch Christian broadcasting, or even own a Bible. They must rely on the Word they have hidden in their hearts and the communication of their spirits with the Holy Spirit to sustain and strengthen them. 

Psalm 119:11 "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."

Let us work on our root systems today. Pressing them deeper into Christ through prayer, Bible study, and Christian fellowship. 

http://youtu.be/f-9JZL-zY2g 

Listen to the words of this old hymn. It is so powerful when we let it get deep into our spirits!!