Rooted

A few years ago, a family we knew during our time in Oklahoma lost their sixteen-year-old son in a football accident. I was able to watch the memorial service on the church’s website. The Dad and the four other sons (teenagers or college-age) all shared. As I listened, I heard their memories and their grief, but overriding all of it was their unwavering faith in a faithful, loving, good, and sovereign God. Even in that first week after their son and brother’s death, the family was already seeking how to respond to their loss in a way that glorified God. This doesn’t mean they weren’t grieving and feeling the loss of their son and brother, but it is evidence that this family is rooted, built up in Christ and established in their faith (God’s Word). It isn’t faith hinging on a quick in and out at church on Sunday morning while sneaking peeks at text messages. It is a faith they have walked in over many years at church, home, work, and school.

This family is living out Colossians 2:6-7.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Paul charges the Colossian believers not to be deluded (verse 4) or deceived (verse 8) by things that might sound good but are actually of no value and based on man’s thinking. Paul desired the Colossians to be encouraged (verse 2). We know that we are more susceptible to lies, plausible arguments and man’s empty deceit and traditions when we are discouraged. As I think of my friends, I know they faced well-meaning people who failed to encourage them with truth. “Why would God let your son die at an early age? He can’t be good. Aren’t you mad at God for what He allowed to happen?” People have human solutions they turn to like drinking, hardening their hearts towards loving others, throwing themselves into a hobby or work, or leaving the church. I am thankful for Paul’s words and the example of our friends. It is only by God’s grace and being rooted and built up in Jesus and established in the faith that we can not only stand firm when the trials, discouragement, lies, and deception come, but we can also abound in thanksgiving through it.

Previously in Colossians, Paul responded to the false teachers who offered new, secret knowledge to the Colossian church. Paul told the Colossian believers that they had already received what they need to know. They did not need something new or different. They had their roots, their grounding. Adding to the gospel message is to deny the sufficiency of Christ. John MacArthur addresses a similar attack today in the church with false philosophy in the guise of psychology being seen as a necessary addition to God’s Word. Others look to visions, rely on the law for holiness, practice asceticism or add man-made requirements to salvation. They all equate to the same – denying the sufficiency of Christ.

It is Christ’s finished, complete, and sufficient work on the cross and in His resurrection that is the only thing we need to be rooted, built up and established in the faith. Everything else flows from the foundation of the gospel or it is false. I can imagine that part of what sustained my friends in their grief was the truth that God out of love for us gave His only Son to die in order to redeem us and make usß His own. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, their son and brother received forgiveness, was justified and saved, and now is eternally with the Father. They have the sure and steadfast hope that they will see him again.

The Greek word for “received” described receiving something by way of a tradition. Paul told the Colossian church that they had received Jesus Himself as the tradition. They didn’t just receive a teaching or an abstract idea. They received Jesus Himself. As Paul then urged the Colossians to continue to walk (daily conduct) in the faith that they had started with (received), they did this knowing that Jesus was with them. He’s with you. Don’t look for something new or additional. What you already have is all you need. Your life is to be patterned after Jesus’ life.

“Our Savior calls us to obedience, not that we might earn our salvation but that we may display our gratitude for His grace. If we love Him — if we have love for God poured into our hearts (Rom. 5:5) — we will keep His commandments, which are not burdensome (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3).”[1]

As you might guess, “rooted” is an agricultural concept. We know that roots nourish and anchor the plant. A plant would not last long without roots. It would be plucked up, blown away or simply die. In a similar way, we need to have our roots deeply planted in Jesus and the Word in order to stand firm and grow. If we do not have deep roots in God’s character and His Word, when trials hit, we will be deceived (verse 8) and turn from truth.

“Built up” is an architectural term. Jesus, the message of the gospel and the teaching of the apostles is our foundation (“established in the faith”). Out of that foundation we mature spiritually. The word taught reminds us that it is by God’s Word that we are strengthened, nourished, and built up. Epaphras had faithfully taught the Colossian church. Today we have the whole of Scripture to study on our own and to be taught during corporate worship.

The final aspect of Paul’s description of walking in Christ in this section is that we abound in thanksgiving. The Greek word for abounding portrays a rushing river that overflows its banks. Before I started my thankful journal, my thanksgiving typically was limited to major events (like a near-miss car accident). The more purposeful I am in being thankful, the more material and spiritual blessings come to mind. It is a process, but one worth pursuing.

My friends in Oklahoma are just one example of walking in Christ, being rooted and built up in Him, being established in the faith and abounding in thanksgiving. Singer Steven Curtis Chapman and his family are another faithful example (read their story if you don’t know it). Hebrews 11 is filled with rooted, established, faithful people. You may know your own examples. I pray you too will be rooted and built up in Christ, established in the faith, abounding in thanksgiving.

Reflection

1. I would encourage you to find an accountability partner for studying God’s Word as this is a struggle for many believers to be consistent. I have been changing how I check in with our youth group kids. Instead of simply asking them if they are doing devotions (this can produce more guilt or a check-list mentality rather than encouragement), I have been asking them what they have been learning. What is something cool that has stood out to them? Yes or no answers won’t help build each other up. Sharing what we are learning does. It is a way of meditating on Scripture as well.

I’m planning to have some information on studying Scripture and prayer available under “Free Resources” by June 2023 if you need help getting started or being consistent.

2. Is your thanksgiving more of a trickle or a rushing river or somewhere in between? Keep adding to your thankful journal and continue cultivating an overflowing heart of thanksgiving.

[1] Ligonier Ministries, “Walking In Christ Jesus.” Tabletalk Magazine. February 2011. https://tabletalkmagazine.com/daily-study/2011/02/walking-christ-jesus/