“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.” (Colossians 2:6-7)
What does it mean to “live in Christ”? Even if you’ve been convinced by Paul’s urgent message this week that all of life should be consumed with Jesus, how do we do that?
Send your roots deep into Christ. The tree doesn’t have a back-up plan to keep it upright; it expects to get all of its stability from the ground it’s planted in. God wants us to dump all of our back-up plans and trust him alone to give us everything we need.
Then grow. Work hard to get what Scripture teaches. Work hard to talk to God every day. Work hard to serve people he loves. Growth comes from sweat and sore muscles. Indulge in sports metaphors: Plan on the pain and learn to love the payoff of walking closely with God.
One result: The stronger you get, the more thanks you’ll feel – and then give. When we’ve got no backup plan to Jesus and we see him provide for us over and over – and over – we can’t shut up with the “thank you’s.”
Think: Do you have a back-up plan to Jesus in your life, something else you’re holding on to in case being a Christian doesn’t really cut it? What would it take to lose your hope in that option and grow your roots deeper into Jesus?
Pray: Ask God to help you to be rooted and built up in Jesus, strengthened in your faith, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Do: Plan some spiritual workouts that involve study, service and prayer.