rooted – Praying Pint

29.i. “Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ”

Colossians 2:6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Isaiah 2:5    O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Galatians 2:20  I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Ephesians 5:1-2   Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.   And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Philippians 1:27  Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

1 John 2:6   whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him: This is a wonderful rule for Christian living. We cannot perfect in the flesh what was begun in the Spirit; therefore just as you received Jesus, walk in Him in the same way. The simple things of the Christian life provide continual and reliable spiritual fuel for growth. We always have to be reminded of the things we have been taught. So walk in Him, rooted and built up: Paul used a curious combination of metaphors. As Christians, we walk, but we are also rooted, and we are also built up. The metaphors are somewhat mixed, but the message is clear: be established and keep growing.

What keeps us from growing and being established? Fleshly and worldly things will hinder our growth and erode our foundation. Are we truly satisfied with a single grape worth of fruit and a shallow foundation unable to build upon? Day after day we are continually exposed to worldly and fleshly things. They are all around us and coming at us all of the time. It can be from those we choose to be around, what we choose to watch and read, or what we choose to think about and allow our minds to dwell on. How are we to discern that which is true, right, holy, and beneficial from that which is meaningless, worthless, tempting, deceitful, and false? Being committed to be in the presence of God at all times with a heart and mind deep desire to, in all things, honor and glorify Jesus Christ is the fertile soil and rock-solid foundation that gives us discernment and understanding for that which is right, true, holy, and beneficial. Water your roots and dig deep into your foundation through daily reading and studying God’s Word.

27.k. “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.”

Ephesians 3:17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Job 11:7-9   “Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?  It is higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?  Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.

Psalms 103:11-12  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;  as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Isaiah 55:9   For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Psalms 139:6    Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

How wide is the love of God in Christ? Wide enough to include every person.

How long will the love of God in Christ last? Through all of eternity.

How deep is the love of God in Christ? Deep enough to reach the worst of sinners.

How high is the love of God in Christ? High enough to take us to heaven.

We don’t ask these questions very much do we? We do ask for blessings, healings, restoration, refuge, help, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, there is something a bit off when we don’t seek to know and understand more about our heavenly Father. Maybe we would rejoice more in who God is rather than what He gives. Maybe we would be more thankful, generous, kind, peaceful, joyful, loving, hopeful, obedient……………… I think we would grow exponentially if we would seek to understand and comprehend how deep, wide, long, and high the love of God is toward His children.Think of the smartest person you know or have heard of and know that before this person has a thought in their head God knows it completely. Think of the most complex science in physics, chemistry, astrophysics, quantum physics, human anatomy……God created it by speaking it into being. What we think is complex to comprehend and understand is less than elementary to God. Much about God will become clear in Heaven but for now, this side of eternity, we do well to honor and glorify Him.

Let them consider

“but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”

Psalms 107:43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

Psalms 28:5 Because they do not regard the works of the LORD or the work of his hands, he will tear them down and build them up no more.

Psalms 64:9 Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.

Isaiah 5:12 They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD, or see the work of his hands.

Jeremiah 9:12 Who is the man so wise that he can understand this? To whom has the mouth of the LORD spoken, that he may declare it? Why is the land ruined and laid waste like a wilderness, so that no one passes through?

Daniel 10:12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.

Hosea 14:9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

Psalms 50:23 The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”

Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

There always seems to be a way man finds to avert focus on God. When they do not focus on God, they stumble, their land is laid waste, they are not built up, they are beat down, or they do not see His salvation. On the other hand those who, ponder, discerns, set their heart to know and seek God, and consider what God has done, they are strengthened with power in their inner being. They are grounded in His love. They know Love that surpasses knowledge. They see God’s salvation. They humble themselves. None of us are immune to getting sideways. None of us are immune to Satan’s attacks. None of us are immune to our sinful nature and it’s wants and desires. Our battle is to keep these influences at bay with knowledge and understanding of God and His holiness. Our hope can be found in no one else. Our faith can be in no one else. If his word is not in our daily lives we will surely loose our way. Remember salvation is offered to all but it is not because we are worthy. It is because we have come to a place where this world and all it has to offer, leaves us wanting and empty. Do you want to find true purpose and satisfaction this side of eternity. Seek God and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened by God.