So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians2:6-7
Many of us stagnate spiritually. When we receive Christ we are filled with gratitude for all He has done for us, and we are enthusiastic and highly motivated. But then the "feelings" wear off and our edge is blunted by the hurly burly of life.
Paul urges us to continue the rest of our lives with the same joy and energy that we had when we first came to know Christ. But how can we do this?
1. Put down roots into Christ:
This means that we develop daily routines to push our roots down into the reality of His incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and the glorious comfort that He is currently our high priest, praying for us and preparing to return for us. Without roots going ever deeper into the incredible truth of His coming into our world to save us, the tree of our relationship with Him will just whither.
2. Strengthen your faith according to your teaching:
The secret to growth in the early church (see Jerusalem, Antioch, Berea and many others in the book of Acts) was that they were devoted to good Biblical teaching. There is no escape from the importance of solid Bible-based learning - but this teaching must be followed up by internal application and putting into practice.
3. A permeating attitude of gratitude:
Pessimism, dissatisfaction and a sense of "waiting for your ship to come in" are fatal to a healthy spiritual life. Too many of us are pessimistic of the present, dissatisfied with the past and waiting for tomorrow to be a better day. A gratitude-attitude has us looking up instead of looking down. A gratitude-attitude points us toward Christ. A gratitude-attitude counts our blessings and waters the roots.
(Deepening roots + teaching-strengthened faith) x gratitude = growth
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
