September 5 | Colossians 2:6-7

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DAILY READING

Colossians 2:6-7

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REFLECTION

Rooted

By Terry Gustafson

The image that I have had in my mind since we began this series on Growing Up In Christ has come from Psalm 1:3 - a tree planted by streams of water.  The analogy of roots, a trunk, branches, and fruit reflect on who we are in Christ.  The roots go deep to the source of our growth; the trunk, with evidence in the yearly rings, reflects a commitment to growth; the branches reach out as we learn and belong to the body of Christ; and fruit is the evidence that we are serving one another and the world around us.

In today’s passage, Paul provides us with a framework for helping us understand why we should want to grow.  After reminding the Colossians who they are (1:3-14), the supremacy of Christ (1:15-23), and his ministry for the church (1:24-2:5), in 2:6 Paul writes “So then” (or “Therefore” in some translations).  What are the consequences of understanding who we are in Christ?  How do we respond to a wonderful Savior?   Paul encourages the church at Colossae to pursue four things:

• Continue to live in Christ.  The verb tense here indicates that our life in Christ is a continuation of something already begun.  God is not done with us yet.  Every day we need to depend on the Spirit to guide us in our decision making for how we live out being a part of the body of Christ, with our own gifts in the place God has put us.

  
  

• Be rooted and built up in Christ.  Paul uses mixed metaphors here, with “rooted” being a horticulture term and “built up” coming from architecture.  Paul uses a passive voice, likely to indicate God’s activity among us.  It is He who roots us and builds us up. (cf. Philippians 2:12-13)

  
  

• Be strengthened in the faith.  The third metaphor Paul uses, strengthened / established, suggests a body / building that is strong enough to withstand opposing forces.  When the roots go deep, a tree can withstand even strong winds.  Growing up in Christ gives us the strength to face challenging times.

  
  

• Overflow with thanksgiving.  In light of all that Christ has done for us we have only one response: be thankful!  Thankful that He saved us; thankful that He lives in us by His Spirit; thankful that He has prepared a place for us.  May our hearts be filled to overflowing with thankfulness as we grow in Christ.

Why do we seek to grow up in our faith?  How deep do our roots go?  Each of us has a unique answer to that question, but we all need to anchor that growth in a Savior - the image of the invisible God - who reconciled us to the Father for His glory and who gives us His Spirit to guide us.  We never mature apart from the Gospel; we only grow deeper - more rooted - into its full implications.

PRAYER

Repeat the following breath prayer throughout the day:

(Breathe in) Lord Jesus, image of the invisible God

(Breathe out) May I overflow with thankfulness for all You have done

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TERRY GUSTAFSON

My wife, Mary, and I have been attending UALC for about 12 years.  We have two grown daughters and one grandchild.  I am a retired professor of chemistry at Ohio State, where I served many years as the faculty advisor to the IVCF graduate student chapter and as a member of the Faculty Christian Fellowship.  I currently have the privilege of serving on the UALC Council.