As Summer draws near, many of you, like me, have planted a garden. The very act of gardening can be such a joyous experience seeing how God transforms a seed into a vibrant fruit bearing mature plant. Some of the things we know to be crucial for proper growth are: the soil condition, proper light, and water. If even just one of these conditions is not up to par, the plant will suffer and may even die. What if I begin with a healthy start? If this is planted into dead soil, it will not thrive, despite how strong it was to begin, nor how much I properly water it. It is vital that we plant in the proper foundation (healthy living soil). This same thing can be said of our Spiritual walk and the need to be properly rooted and fed. In Ephesians we are instructed:
Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
We as believers are to be rooted and grounded in love, and rooted and built up in Him. Christ is the foundation of our faith. The Apostle Paul goes on to say:
1 Cor 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
So its plain to see that our foundation is Christ alone. We cannot build upon any other foundation. He is the solid ground of our soul. He gives forgiveness, life, wisdom, understanding, and hope. The Word goes on to warn us of what becomes, if we build earthly things upon this foundation:
1 Cor 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1 Cor 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1 Cor 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1 Cor 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Our works, or choices and actions, are either out of a heart of obedience and transformation due to our relationship with Christ, and from a desire to glorify Him; or they are done from a selfish heart that seeks favor in the sight of men more than God. These behaviors and choices will be tested and if they were done in the wrong heart, we will suffer loss. This very thing happened oft in the time of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Christ came and exposed the wickedness of their hearts with the religious deeds they performed.
Mat 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Mat 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
How often have you been offended by a hypocrite? There is something within us that rises up in frustration when people talk the talk, but don't walk the walk. My challenge to you is to truly evaluate your heart and the intentions for why you do what you do. Whether it be why you follow certain religious practices, such as attending church or praying, or rendering services to others in need. Are you doing this out of habit or guilt,? Or does it flow from a grace filled heart that longs to reveal more of the Savior to those you come in contact with? Anytime we act benevolent it appears good, but it in no way justifies us. Our actions and fruit are a direct result of how our life has been transformed. Our confidence does not come from anything within us, it is Christ in us that gives us boldness. In a world where self confidence and self esteem are highly regarded, we read in The Word:
Php 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Again pointing us back to our firm foundation in Christ. We also know that in our weakness God's strength is revealed.
2 Cor 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
In order to be effective for the Lord, we must empty ourselves of pride in any of our own ability, and lean solely on the Rock of our faith.
You may be thinking okay, this is making sense, but how exactly do I become rooted and grounded?
First we must increase in faith. We do this by studying the Word of God.
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Just as a plant needs its roots to sink deeper into the earth to obtain the nutrients from the soil, we must diligently seek to understand the high calling by which we have been called so we know what our hope is.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
As Gentiles, we have been extended not only Grace unto Salvation, but we have also been given a calling to a sphere of blessing that is far above all where Christ has ascended and seated at the right hand of the Father, along with receiving every spiritual blessing.
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Then it goes on to mention his prayer for us:
Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Do you see Paul's heart as he expresses to us the magnitude of this precious mystery revealed? It should overwhelm us with love and motivate us to understand it. I recommend spending time studying the wealth of knowledge in both Ephesians and Colossians that directly apply to us and the time of grace in which we live. Here at Believer.com we too desire what the Apostle Paul wrote for the Colossians to be seen in you as well:
Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
When you give time to Lord, it is never in vain. The more we study and seek the things above, the deeper our roots will sink in and the more grounded we shall become. May you be strengthened and encouraged today as you walk in light and stay rooted and built up in Him.
All His Blessings,
Kacy
