“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 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.
What Paul is saying in this Colossians passage is that you don’t start with something else and then move on to Jesus. There’s no next step or graduating from Jesus to something else. It starts and ends with Jesus. Paul is reminding us to live in Christ. Not just around Him, not just beside Him, but in Him. Christ is not just another element of our lives or a compartment in them. He should be the central part of every area of our lives. Christ lives in us, and we are to reflect that in everything we do and everywhere we go.
The Bible uses the imagery of tree roots to emphasize the importance of a strong faith foundation, the need to address the root causes of issues, and the potential for growth and resilience when we are deeply connected to God. Our faith is the same way. The deeper we go in our relationship with Christ, the greater our impact becomes. Are we spending time with Him, seeking Him, and His wisdom? Our roots must dig deep into Christ through His Word, worshipping Him, and reflecting His character to those around us.
Each plant thrives in a specific location and environment. And so do we. Certain plants need sun while others do not. But even when planted in the perfect location, root development is critical. Trees need time until their roots spread far enough to support them in heavy winds. Water is essential as well. God has planted or transplanted us, even in some cases, not ideal conditions. The reality is that the deeper our roots are in Jesus and His Word, the stronger we will be when faced with life’s challenges. When we have deep roots, we can weather the storm of change, lies, guilt, or difficulty. Psalm 1:3 says, “They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” It takes faith.
Jesus calls us to be rooted in Him. A life that is rooted in Jesus is a radically different life. It is not about doing extreme things. It is about living life centered on Him. It may seem different or even extreme to the rest of the world, and rightfully so. The teachings of Jesus turned the world upside down: the last become first, and the first end up last. It is the servants who are considered the greatest of all, manifesting the life and love of God.
God is committed to growing His people. He has rooted us in Christ through our salvation and fosters our growth through the Holy Spirit working through His Word.. Paul says in Galatians 4:19,”Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.
The practical application in Colossians 2:6 is to walk in Him in everything. Let this reality transform everything you do, everything you think, everything you desire, everything you say, every decision you make, every interaction you have, do all of it through and with Him.
Discussion Questions:
- What does it mean to “walk in Him?” How does this compare to the idea of following Jesus?
- What does it mean to be “rooted and built up in Him?”
- In what areas of your life do you need to be more rooted and built up in Christ?