Monday, July 02, 2012

Grow In Christ

Putting your roots down deep in Jesus.


Colossians 2:6-8  And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him.

7  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.

8  Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

Difficult times are guaranteed for any Christ follower. After you have become a Child of God the devil knows that he cannot have you, but he does know that he needs to keep you from realizing your full potential in Christ and he wants to stop you from being an effective disciple maker. You made a decision to follow Christ and if you are like so many other Christ followers then you too will be tempted to do something that he just can't stand; you just might help create another Christ follower. The devil can't let that possibility go unchallenged.

There will be "new" teachings that will try and trick you and uproot your faith. The best way to safeguard against the winds of the latest philosophies that blow in is to have a deep root system that will keep you anchored. (John 15:4, Ephesians 4:14-15)
Psalms 1:1-4  Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
The advantages of being a Godly man are seen in the beginning of the book of Psalms. The Godly man is to be different in his thoughts and his behavior.

The Godly man's life finds strength and nourishment in the Bible, he puts his roots down deep into the word and enjoys a stability and fruitful life that the wicked can only dream of. (Jeremiah 17:7-8, 1 Timothy 4:8)

If we realize that these false teachings come from spiritual forces that we cannot stand against on our own then we should also realize that we cannot survive without the help that comes from having our roots planted by the source of nourishment that will keep until the day of Christ return. (Ephesians 6:12)

I must spend time with God everyday so that I can live with authenticity, spending time with him is the only way to keep on track and living without compromise.