Rooted

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).

God's creation is amazing. Take the redwood forest, for example. These towering giants can reach heights of  400 feet, and some have stood since long before Christ. Scientists estimate that one tree, known as the President, may be over 3,200 years old. A few are even wide enough to drive a car through.

What surprises many people is that these majestic trees have roots that only reach down about 7-8 feet, remarkably shallow considering their height. How do they stand upright for so long? Their roots are interwined with the roots of neighboring trees, giving them added strength. If they stood alone, they would have been destroyed long ago. And from a single cone, containing about 200 tiny seeds the size of a tomato seed, the next generation begins.

Christians could learn from the redwoods. We, too, must be rooted—firmly planted in God’s Word, grounded in His truth, and deeply connected with Him. We also need one another. When our lives are intertwined in Christian fellowship, we stand stronger against trials, temptations, and the storms that inevitably come. In addition, we should sow seeds of faith, hope, and truth wherever God places us. This is especially important in our own families, where we have the responsibility of passing on the faith to the next generation.

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