6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT)
14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. 16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. 20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Mark 4:14-20 (NLT)
Aisha’s Analysis
Building your life on the unshakable foundation of Christ is not a single, isolated event. It’s a daily process. Colossians 2:6-7 uses imagery of roots growing down into Christ. Letting your roots grow down into Christ takes time. It requires care and cultivation. While God is the one who ultimately causes us to grow, it’s up to us to create an environment conducive to that growth.
What does that look like? Jesus gives us some clues for massive growth in Mark 4. It requires protecting the Word in your heart instead of letting Satan come and steal it away (v. 15). It requires removing the other “rocks” from the soil of your heart, so your roots can grow down deep (v.16). Get rid of doubt, fear, and not trusting God. Don’t let life’s storms and rough patches cause you to lose heart. Keep trusting God even in the midst of hardship. He’ll see you through to the other side. Additionally, we must get rid of thorns that choke out the Word of God. Jesus describes these thorns as the “worries of life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things” (v. 18-19).
The above-listed items cause a shaky foundation. Coming to Jesus, hearing His Word, believing it, and acting on it leads to an unshakable foundation that can withstand all of life’s trials and tribulations.
What’s more, our new life in Christ changes us too. We no longer have to succumb to the prevailing wind of doctrine floating around. We can stand firm on the blessed Rock of Christ and rest confidently in His unfailing love and in the knowledge that He is faithful and true.
Application
What are some attitudes you can adopt to foster rootedness in Christ? Roots indicate an attachment or relationship has formed. Attitudes that foster rootedness include trust, listening, learning, following, loving, obeying, and staying. God is someone we can trust and willingly obey without fear of the outcome.
Let your roots grow down into the foundation of Christ and build your life on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness (Colossians 2:6-7).
Prayer
Father God, thank You for bringing me to life and establishing peace between us. Because of Your unfailing love, I’m alive in You. Strengthen me for challenging times and may I never forget You when everything is seemingly fine. I want to abide in You continually and build my life upon the Rock. Show me how. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
City Life Starter 
Leave a Reply