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Thursday, January 21, 2016
Stephen, in the "down under" position of having a tooth extracted. (It appears he's assisting the dentist which he actually is, pushing against his chin providing a firm base for the doctor to anchor and work with his dental extraction pliers.)
"The Blessing Of Deep Roots"
Message Summary: Developing and maintaining a solid spiritual root system is an active, lifelong pursuit of reading, studying, meditating and memorizing God's Word; regular communion with God through prayer; sharing with others of the good things of God; influencing others to come to faith. As we grow in Him there is more and more that Christ reveals to us through spiritual leaders, everyday experiences, trials, and life's circumstances. One of the greatest ways we deepen our roots is by our Christian service and obedience to Christ's teachings.
Listen to this
message on
your
audio player."So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness" (Colossians 2:6,7).
Last week I managed to get a lesson from a painful tooth. Yesterday morning I had a visit to my friendly dentist, Dr. Dinse, who after examining me, determined my troublesome tooth needed removed. After undergoing the dreaded procedure I was out of commission for the afternoon.
I am feeling better hour by hour and making my chaplain visitation along with Brooksyne today. The extracted molar weighed .12 oz, which for the record is about 1/35,000 of my body weight (an engineer can reverse this and see if it makes sense, since math was never my best subject in school)! I am not going to disclose what I weigh but if the calculation shows I weigh less than 150 lbs or more than 300 lbs I calculated wrong. Please don't draw the wrong conclusion!
Ester went with me to keep me company and watched the procedure (better to watch than to be part of the procedure, as she often is when it comes to her heart matters). As always she had her camera ready and took today's rather unusual lead photo. Dr. Dinse told me this tooth probably came in when I was about ten so I'm thankful for the fifty years I got out of it. Notice how the Doc is flexing his biceps in the photo. He had quite a time getting my tooth out since I was told, "You have deep roots", something I've never been told before. It's always encouraging when people say nice things about you.
Although the deep roots made the procedure difficult they were a blessing for many years, anchoring that tooth solidly in my aging mouth. Likewise, I want my two story house to have firm footers dug far below ground level to hold our house steady on its foundation during the occasional mass of high winds that propel their force against our house.
I also want my faith to be anchored solidly as well, rooted deeply in God's Word!
Today's text from Colossians 2:7, "rooted and built up in Him...", is the basis of a two year discipleship program the Navigators developed simply called 2:7. We have friends who testify of the blessing and spiritual growth they experienced while participating in 2:7.
But today let us consider just the word "rooted" from our daily text. Although we began with an illustration of the deep roots in my teeth, Paul is likely drawing here on a familiar agricultural analogy. Perhaps he had in mind the teaching of our Lord, who warned of the deadly spiritual condition of rootlessness in the Parable of the Sower. Jesus said of the seed that fell on rocky places, "but since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away" (Matthew 13:21).
Roots are a vital part of the believer's life. Our daily verse tells us we are to be "rooted and built up in Him."
The Greek word for root is "rhizoo" and suggests stability, nourishment
and life derived from contact with Christ ("in Him"). As a plant's
roots sink deep into the rich soil for long term stability and
nourishment, so too we should root our faith deep into sound Biblical
doctrine and solid spiritual food that comes from knowing Christ. These
well-nourished roots will keep us strong forever and forever.In our growing walk with Christ we find life-giving soil and a sustaining foundation. However, we have the responsibility to implement the means of grace that God has ordained for our "rooting." We all need a good, solid, ever-growing root system that reaches deep into the spiritual soil for the nourishment and stability that God has graciously provided. This will render us both faithful and fruitful.
Developing and maintaining a solid spiritual root system is an active, lifelong pursuit of reading, studying, meditating and memorizing God's Word; regular communion with God through prayer; sharing with others of the good things of God; influencing others to come to faith and disciple them to be faithful followers. As we grow in Him there is more and more that Christ reveals to us through spiritual leaders, everyday experiences, trials, and life's circumstances. One of the greatest ways we deepen our roots is by our Christian service and obedience to Christ's teachings.
Are you rooted in Him? Are your spiritual roots growing deeper and spreading like branches on a tree? Thank God for His ever-growing supply of spiritual nutrition that solidifies our Christian foundation which is "rooted" in the living Christ!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we are so very grateful that our family roots are
not the sole source of who we are nor does it dictate what we can
accomplish. Our spiritual roots, because of our well-grounded faith in
You, goes much deeper and spreads much broader. We are able to
accomplish the impossible and overcome life's difficulties because our
roots are connected to the Miracle Worker. May the water of Your Holy
Spirit quench our thirst and the spiritual food from Your inspired Holy
Word satisfy our hunger causing us to grow in spiritual maturity. We
remain safe and secure, firmly rooted in You. Father, though the winds and
storms may shake us from time to time, it is in You that we live and
move and have our being! Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"God of All My Days" Video Tribute Quartet
"Colossians 2:6-7" Video Jack Gilbert
"My Faith Still Holds" Video Gaither Vocal Band
The 2:7 Series
Additional teaching on Colossians 2:6,7
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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