Your Daily Devotional for September 19, 2006

 

September 19, 2006

 

Grounded In Him

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. “

 

Colossians 2:6-7

 

Every spring, our family goes through a little ritual of gardening. We purchase seeds, prepare the soil and then on a warm afternoon, we plant the garden row by row. It is vital that each seed is rooted in the proper type of soil and spaced according to the instructions. Of course, the depth and quality of the root system determine the plant’s ability to rise.

 

In planting a garden there are many variables, but two things are basic: proper rooting of the plant and uprooting of weeds. These same principles are applicable to the establishing of a godly life. What you are grounded on and how strong your roots are will determine your ability to grow in Him.

 

As the Apostle Paul wrote to the church of Colosse, one of his real concerns was that each believer was rooted and built up in Christ. Although Paul did not personally help to found this church, he was concerned that they would be grounded. Paul realized the importance of having a good foundation and emphasized this to these Christians.

 

Paul, again, re-emphasized the importance of being rooted correctly in Ephesians 3:17-18, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height.” Christ says that when we are grounded on His principles, we will have no problem discerning the will of God.

 

A Christian who is built on Christ will not be deceived. Matthew 7:24-25 says, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”

 

God likens the person who heeds His Word to the man who builds his house on a firm foundation. When we are grounded on God and are rooted in His Word, the attacks of this world will not make us quit. Yes, we may get knocked down a few times, but we can claim the promise of Proverbs 24:16, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”

 

Take a minute right now and think about what you are rooted in today. Are you grounded in God’s Word or in the philosophies of this world? Do you serve Christ or self? Just as a plant will fall if not rooted properly, so a Christian, if not grounded on God, will fall. Don’t let the pressures of this world uproot you; ground yourself in Christ today!

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