Tag: rooted in Him
Rooted and built up in Christ
Scripture reading for June 22nd: Colossians 2, Psalm 124, Proverbs 31
Colossians 2:5-10 “For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. 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 the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, Who is the head of all rule and authority.”
Paul rejoiced at the report of these believers becoming established in their faith and rooted and built up in Christ. The growth came as a result of following the sound teaching of Christ’s Word and thankful and humble listening and application. Paul warned them about other voices seeking to take them captive and deceive them. These false teachers used philosophy and worldly spirits to draw away disciples from truth. But Christ had given the believers fullness of the Holy Spirit and understanding of Christ through His Word. They had escaped the snares of the false teachers and allowed the Word to take root in their hearts as a seed in good soil. As they would abide in Christ, they would produce much fruit to His glory!
Psalm 124:7-8 “We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the Name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for delivering us from the captivity of sin and worldly spirits through Christ Jesus, head of all rule and authority. Help me to hear Your Word today and fill me with Your fullness that I might abide in Christ, rooted deeper today than yesterday. Use me as a fruitful branch of the Vine of Jesus to produce abundant fruit through Your strength and Gospel message.
Proverbs 31:16-17 “She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.” (The excellent wife, Bride of Christ)
Rooted in Christ Jesus
Scripture reading for September 8th: Colossians 2
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Colossians 2:6-9 “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.”
There were false teachers roaming about in Colossae. These teachers were using false “humility” and visions of angels that they had supposedly seen to draw members of the Church away from true faith in Christ Jesus. Paul warned this church of the danger that they faced and encouraged them to go deeper in Christ and become rooted and built up in Him and the faith that comes from studying His word and not the fleshly and puffed up visions of the false teachers. In Christ alone is Deity in bodily form and by faith in Him is fullness given to all who believe. Beware of counterfeits!
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers are saved by faith in Christ Jesus and become rooted and strengthened in Him by growing in faith and full dependency on Christ’s fullness and sufficiency. In this way they spot false teachers and avoid their traps! “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?” (Isaiah 55:1-2)