How Are Your Roots?
by Pastor Bill Pevlor
Roots are amazing things. They are the most vital part of a healthy
plant, yet they are usually completely invisible. When most people stop to
admire a beautiful bloom or towering tree, they seldom comment on what a lovely
root system the plant has. In spite of the lack of visibility and recognition of
this part of the plant, the plant would not live without thriving roots. The
same is true in the life of a Christian. What makes a Christian strong, healthy,
and vibrant is the time spent developing an invisible system of spiritual roots.
The primary purpose of roots is nourishment. It is through its
underground roots that a plant receives the majority of water and nutrients
essential to its survival and productivity. Our spiritual roots work much the
same way. Through our time of private prayer and Bible study we gain the daily
nutrition that causes our spirits and faith to grow.
There is nothing glamorous about personal devotion time. No one sees it,
except God, of course. Unless you tell people how much time you spend praying
and studying the Bible each day, no one will ever know. Like the roots of a
plant, this process is virtually invisible. Although people may not see the
actual process, they will certainly observe the results.
Roots serve another very important purpose. When winds blow and storms
rage, strong roots provide a solid anchor for plants and for our souls. You may
have noticed that being a Christian does not automatically eliminate all
problems and hardships from life! In fact, Jesus promised in John 16:33, that we
would experience tribulation, or problems, in this world. The advantage we have
is being rooted in Christ. He went on to say that He has overcome the world. If
we are faithful and diligent to let our roots grow deep into Christ, we will not
be blown away by every problem that comes along. A tumble weed is swept away by
even the slightest breeze because it has no roots. Sometimes Christians are like
that too. If we want to withstand the storms of life, we must develop a sturdy
root system.
Let’s look at a couple of examples from scripture. Just before His
crucifixion, Jesus made two startling predictions. First He announced that one
of His disciples would betray Him. Later He prophesied that another of His
followers would deny knowing Him. Both predictions came to pass, and both men
were devastated by their failure. In spite of their similar circumstances,
however, the two men had vastly different outcomes.
After betraying Jesus, Judas was overcome with guilt and tragically took
his own life. Peter, on the other hand, recognized his guilt and repented. He
was completely forgiven and restored and went on to become one of the most
prominent figures in the New Testament.
What was the difference between the two? Roots. It is evident from the
Gospels that Peter, unlike Judas, made an effort to spend a great deal of time
with Jesus. All of the disciples followed Jesus, witnessed His miracles, and
heard His sermons, but Peter pressed in to a closer personal relationship with
the Lord. That is really the key to strong spiritual roots. Just knowing about
Jesus and His wonderful works is nice, but only a close personal relationship
with Him will sustain you through the really hard times of life.
Besides nourishment and support, roots offer storage of vital nutrients
for plants. While there are occasional storms, thank goodness it doesn’t rain
every day! On dry days, roots have the ability to tap the resources of water and
minerals buried deep within the soil. We have all gone through these dry
seasons. During these trying times, we must rely on our spiritual roots to see
us through. The time we have spent cultivating a close relationship with the
Lord will not be in vain. The hours spent getting to know His Word and His
character will provide the strength to sustain us through the severest of
droughts.
So how do we cultivate a strong root system? The important factors are
good seed, soil, and water. The Word of God is good seed. We can be sure it will
produce a bountiful harvest. We also need to be sure the seed is planted in good
soil. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to plow up any hard, dry areas of our
hearts so we can be soft, fertile soil. Finally, we need to make sure the seed
is watered. When we spend time in prayer and fellowship with other believers the
seed of God’s Word in our hearts is nurtured. By doing these things, we allow
the roots of our faith to grow deep in Christ.
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Victorious
Faith Ministries
219 State Street, Algoma, WI 54201
Phone: 920-487-5775
©2002 Victorious Faith Ministries