Faith takes Root

Last week, I shared Colossians 2:6-7 which began with this phrase, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,” and we walked together along Apple Road.

 That same verse continues, “having been firmly rooted.”  When we receive Christ Jesus as Lord—He plants us into a place where we are firmly rooted.

Roots remind me of trees, and I wonder . . . what does a tree require in order to be firmly rooted?

Soil.  The soil can’t be weak; it needs nutrients, fertilizer.  On the farm we call fertilizer MANURE.  In town you call it COMPOST.  Looks the same, smells the same—it’s all the same decaying, rotten stuff of life.  But somehow that rotten stuff breaks down chemically to make the roots strong.

So we have MANURE for our soil . . . what else does a newly planted tree need?

Water.  That water soaks into the roots and helps them spread out and grow.  Roots seek water and the deeper they go in tapping into the pure source of water, the stronger the tree will be.

What’s the last thing a tree needs to take root?

Sunshine.  The sun on the topside of the tree helps the plant to grow and thrive and gives it more strength under the ground too.  A healthy tree has strong roots and strong branches and leaves.

Much like a newly planted tree taking root, we become firmly rooted spiritually when we have some essential nutrients.

We need the Light of the World, Jesus.  He shines into our lives, and we reach up to Him for strength.

We need the Word of God to water our lives.  Isaiah 55:10-11 tells us that the Word of God is like the rain and snow that come down and soak into the ground. And just as moisture helps a tree produce fruit, when we’re rooted in the Word of God, we are fruitful in God’s kingdom.

Finally, we need manure.  Seriously!  Our lives are filled with the rotten, decaying stuff of life.  Because we live in a sinful world, there is a lot of disappointment,

                                  dissatisfaction,

                                              discontent,

                                                        disgust . . .

all the discarded and ugly things that really stink it up sometimes.

 We can let those sinful things pile up around us OR we can give them to God. 

Yes, God WANTS our manure.  He wants whatever it is that we hold back from Him, whatever sinful things we hold more tightly than we cling to Him.  He’s asking us to give them up. 

That’s where confession happens . . . because you can’t give up something that you don’t own. Confession means we own the sin in our lives . . . then we give it to God and accept His forgiveness.

1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 

That’s why confession is an integral part of our prayer time here at TW.  James 5:16 is the verse we claim: “Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.  The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” 

We realize the more you learn about who God is through His Word, the more your sin will start to stink to you.  We want you to learn a healthy way to respond to that sin . . .  to not just keep piling it up, but to give it up to God.  Then, He  is faithful to forgive and cleanse us. 

It seems to me that self-disclosure has become a very popular thing to do these days.  When I was growing up in the church, we hid our sin rather than have it known and healed.  So it just piled up in our lives.  Now we are quick to reveal our sins. But true confession is more than just acknowledging sin, it’s also asking God to forgive that sin.  When we do, God cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

And just like a newly planted tree uses fertilizer to strengthen its roots, God uses the manure of life to make us strong.  God redeems even the most disgusting things in our lives for our good and His glory. 

Pause for Refection:

What sin is God asking you to confess, relinquish, and allow Him to redeem today? 

What have you been piling up and holding onto in place of Jesus? 

What can you trust Jesus to set you free from today?