Colossians 2:6-7 NIV
“So then, just as you received CHRIST JESUS as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
The Christian life continues the same way it begins—by FAITH in the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
We are called to walk by faith! Our entire Christian lives will be blessed and successful if we choose live out of our faith in CHRIST. In this passage, we find three practical ways on how we are to live life continuously in CHRIST JESUS:
1. We are to be rooted and built up in CHRIST. Just like any healthy tree, roots give stability and the means to acquire nutrients and moisture from the ground. What you see above ground is only a fraction of the the most important part of the tree remains deep under the ground—it’s roots! That person is likened to a “tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:3). In the same way, it is necessary that our root system is built on the Lord JESUS and that this is the foundation for growth in life.
2. The second step is being strengthened in faith. We begin our journey with CHRIST by faith so it also makes sense that this is how we continue our entire lives —by “becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith” (Col 2:7b AMP). Think of faith like a muscle that needs to be constantly exercised so that it will be kept in good shape and strong, ready to withstand anything and everything. Like our example of a healthy tree, it is the trunk of the tree that grows visibly tall and strong over the years. That part is exposed to the elements so it needs to be strong and able to withstand any outside force. The more deeply rooted, the larger and stronger the tree.
3. Overflowing with Thankfulness…The Christian life without thanksgiving and gratitude severely damages our growth and witness for JESUS. When we are established in CHRIST, made secure and growing in faith, we’re able to see GOD moving in each and every circumstance —our life will abound with thanksgiving. This is a beautiful description of a life saved, established, rooted, secure, made strong and able, mature, transformed, complete and continually bringing glory to GOD through a life of gratitude.
“So then, just as we have received CHRIST JESUS as LORD, let us continue to live in HIM…”
Prayer:
Dear GOD, please encourage us to walk closely with JESUS as we study and spend time in the Scriptures, through prayer and other means of fellowship. May we be built up, established and strengthened in the faith, and that our lives would increasingly abound with thankfulness. We pray this in the great and mighty Name of CHRIST JESUS. Amen.
Forever Grateful,
Pastor Wally & Sister Mattie