Rooted, built up, and abounding suggest growth and thriving. I love my flowers, but for them to thrive, there must be some behind-the-scenes work. They need many elements to help them be what they ought to be. When planting, you need the proper soil with rich nutrients for the plant. They need water, pruning, and pesticides to keep insects and fungus from infecting and killing them. In Colossians 2:6-7, Paul uses the terms ” rooted, built up, and abounding in reference to the new church at Colosse.
Colossians 2:6-7 “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.”
We first see that those Paul is speaking to are Christians, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord.” He then gives them a call to duty. We, too, are reminded that salvation is the beginning of a daily journey, not the final journey. The faith, trust, and sorrow over sins that brought us to Jesus must be characteristic of every step we take moving forward. Unfortunately, many say a prayer, find some relief from their guilt, and then go back to life as normal. True humility and repentance will be expressed in change and a deep love as a result of forgiveness.
I love reading Paul’s writings where he uses imagery from nature and architecture to illustrate how a healthy Christian walk operates.
First, he uses walking to show us that faith is active and continuous. This implies steady progress, consistent direction, and intentional choices. You are invited to live each moment dependent on His grace, just as you did on the day you surrendered your life to Him.
Second, just like a plant must have good, healthy roots to survive, we must be rooted in Him. Like a giant oak driving its roots deep into fertile soil, your spiritual vitality depends on where you draw your nourishment. When your roots sink deep into Christ through prayer and study, you remain unshaken in the face of trials.
Third, he moves from nature to architecture. He talks about being built up and established. As I read Paul’s writings, I envision a building with a firm, solid foundation. In research, I found that in a multi-story building, the foundation must be 5-10% of the total building area. A 98-foot-tall building would need a minimum foundation depth of 5 to 10 feet. Then you must take into account the soil it is in, the weight of the building materials, groundwater, the environment, and on it goes. I point these things out to show the care we must take to ensure we are established on a solid foundation. A good foundation does not just happen. This would mean we must determine what we do and how we do it in accordance with God’s word. Therefore, we must spend time in His word and in prayer. He is the great architect of our souls. What we learn through study, preaching, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit will keep us from shifting because of the culture we live in. Buildings on sand shift and finally crumble; those on the rock stand firm.
Paul then teaches us to abound in thanksgiving. A growing faith naturally produces gratitude. True spiritual strength does not display itself through pride or self-righteousness, but through an overflowing heart of thanksgiving for God’s unfailing mercy and grace.
Here are three easy-to-remember steps for executing our quest to grow and abound in our faith.
- Examine our soil. Are you taking dedicated time to sink your roots into Christ each day, or are you trying to survive on spiritual reserves from the past?
- Guard what the word has taught you through Paul’s writing. When unexpected challenges arise today, resolve to stand firm on biblical truth rather than reacting out of fear or emotion.
- Stop, do not forget to count your blessings. This is a much-needed step that we can easily forget as we face the challenges of the day. Express deliberate gratitude today. Name three specific spiritual or physical blessings God has provided and thank Him directly. Make this an intentional habit. It will change your focus, and you will be better off spiritually, mentally, and physically. Gratitude takes fear and worries and puts them in their place, in God’s hands.
May you spend some time today thanking God for allowing you to be His child. Thank Him for His grace and the promise of eternal life. Ask Him to help you walk closer today than you did the day before. Ask for help to make choices that will honor Him. Establish your roots deep in His love and build your faith firmly on His word. Add to your foundation each day so you can weather the storms of life and keep a thankful heart.
