Strong Roots

I remember shortly after moving to Tri Cities, I was amazed at how many young trees in people’s yards would die or be blown over by the wind. It didn’t take long for me to figure out why. If you plant a tree, you want the roots to go down deep into the ground, so that they can draw out nutrients from the soil, and also so they can be strong enough to weather storms. But this takes time.
However, what seemed to happen all too often is that someone would plant the tree where it was constantly getting sprayed with irrigation water twice a day. So rather than shooting roots deep down into the ground, they spread out shallow enough to absorb the easy water that comes from irrigation. The problem with that is, it doesn’t take much more than a drought in summer or a strong storm for it to either blow over or die of dehydration. That’s the result of shallow roots.

I talk to and counsel a lot of Christians who wonder why they don’t have a deep relationship with God or why they compromise and fall into sin so easily. It doesn’t take long to figure out why.
Many of them simply have very shallow roots. Their prayer life is abysmal. They have no hunger for the Word. They don’t really enjoy going to church, and they rarely, if ever, share their faith! That’s sounds terrible, but one or more of those may describe some people reading this. I don’t write it to be condescending, but to help identify the problem, so we can grow out of it.

Trees that only want fresh new easy water don’t have deep roots. Christians who only want fresh new easy experiences and don’t practice spiritual discipline to grow are shallow. They will be vulnerable to the storms and the dry seasons of life.
Look at Colossians 2:6,7 “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 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.”

Proper growth takes time. A strong tree with deep roots doesn’t grow overnight. It happens as we discipline ourselves to follow Christ. Sometimes, in fact most of the time, Bible reading is a matter or discipline. We don’t have earth shattering epiphanies every single time we open the Scriptures. And we don’t hear audible voices every time we pray. God does speak to us in prayer and through the word all the time, but sometimes I’m reading just because I love Him and I apply myself to being a disciple. Going to church isn’t about me and what I’m getting out of it. It’s about being around God’s people and serving wherever I can. Sharing your faith is the surest and fastest way for you to grow and develop in your faith. You’ll experience the power of the Holy Spirit in a way you never have before.
The growth that occurs because of these disciplines is something that happens over the course of time. But the roots you put down will go deep into Christ.
Your relationship with God will be strong and fulfilling, even during a drought or a storm. You won’t be easily ensnared or overcome by temptation, and you’ll be filled with thankfulness to God.

What kind of roots do you have? Are they deep or shallow? Are you only interested in seeking God when it’s easy and convenient? Or do you discipline yourself to seek and follow him?