Colossian 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
When you receive Christ, it is important to live your life in Him. Take note of the ‘in Him’ within the verses. Most people, when they receive Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, they move off from there and live life normally but that is not how God set it. In receiving Christ as Lord, you must continue in Him and be rooted in Him.
There is a process of setting your roots deep into Christ and a process in being built up in Him. This is why there are differences among Christians. We all have the same Holy Spirit but the difference is in the staying and building up in Christ.
The same goes for being strengthened in faith. We all have faith but you can be weak in faith. Manifesting in strong faith is staying in the faith.
Isaiah 61:3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
The analogy of the believer is that of trees. We are the planting of the Lord and the expectation, the requirement is to stay in Him.
There are a set of Christians which is the right set that stay and are established. They are rooted. However there are two other sets of people that get born again which are not the right sets:
- The crisis set – There is a tendency to know him as a way maker or miracle worker. Such Christians drift away and only return when they are in crisis similar to the children of Israel. The children of Israel only south the Lord in crisis or when they needed something. When they got what they needed, they no longer sought Him. This set only seek God on a prayer point instead of staying in Him.
- The matter set – They know they should be rooted and established in Him. They know they ought to be rooted and built up in Him. Luke 10:38-42 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Mary was focused on getting rooted in Christ, she was listening to Him but Martha was distracted with preparations that had to be made. There was nothing wrong with what she was doing but she was distracted. Many Christians are distracted by so many activities. When they see that you are not doing as much as they are, they don’t see you as a sound Christian. Martha was caught up in activities and it is easy for us to do that. It will keep you from abiding in Christ.
God wants us to be deep wells of righteousness. We don’t want to become pipes, doing all the activities and not having a solid relationship with God.
You can be a parent and parenting can be a challenge that distracts you from having a strong relationship with God. You can be a worker in church and distracted away from abiding in Christ.
One thing is needful which is to be planted in Christ. We need to go deeper in relationship with God not transactionally. Relationship with God must be first. Fellowship means pouring one into another. With God, He is pouring into us and our roots are going deep into Him, being built up as a spiritual edifice. We must live our lives in Him all the time.
Matthew 6:28-33 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
The reason why we are not rooted in God is because we are worried and therefore pursuing so many things in life. You must renew your mind, challenge your mindset and see that there is a better way in Christ. In the Kingdom, you can challenge and determine what you will have.
God sets a process for lilies that they do not labour or spin. You are much more valuable than them. The instruction is not to worry. The temptation is to leave your place of planting and go out to make something for yourself. That is for people who don’t know God. Take time to make Him first, enjoy Him, then you will find that everything else will be added to you. Make relationship with God first and it will make a massive difference in your life.
Colossians 1:15-18 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Christ is before all things – your spouse, children, job whatever. In God, everything has order, nothing is in disarray. Those who are planted in Him, though it may seem like your growth is slow, give it time, when the storms and wind comes, those who are planted and rooted will stand. In Christ, everything holds together. The way to go deeper in God is to make Him first.
Examples of those who took time to go deeper with God.
- David – Why did God anoint David as King? It was said of Him, that I have found a man after my own heart’. His heart was constantly on God. He made mistakes but he continued to seek the Lord. Unlike David, we are in Him. We commune constantly in Him. David also taught his men to love and serve God.
- The sons of Korah – Psalms 42:1-2, 7 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. Even in times of trouble, they desired the Lord. That no matter what was happening, there is safety in God and constant desire to be there. Resist the temptation to do other things and not remain in Him. You cannot have a good Father and still hustle like ordinary men.
- John the Baptist – Luke 1:80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel. Everyone who made a difference in the Kingdom, this is what they did. John took time to stay and continue in Him. He took time with God and when the time came, He came out publicly. Your devotion in secret will announce you openly. Nothing compares to having deep fellowship with God. When you come to the place where you have or not, total dependence on God, you have arrived.
- Jesus Christ – Luke 2:45-46 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. Jesus took time to listen and ask questions; to sink His roots deep before launching out into ministry. Our mandate is to go deeper in relationship with Him. It is what we should do. 1 Timothy 4:13-15 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. It is important to have constant fellowship with the Lord.
- Paul – We read the epistles and enjoy them but Paul did not just launch out like that. After he got born again, he took 3-14 years to sit at the feet of God. Afterwards, He launched out and we see the fruit of it today.
In conclusion, make it a duty, the desire of your heart to love God. Don’t go after every other thing. Walk and stay in Him.
