Go deep!

Colossians 2:6-7

     And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.

     Living in Florida, I have the unfortunate advantage of experiencing hurricanes and extremely strong rain storms, on occasion. Over the years, I’ve noticed a common thread to the outcome of these storms; many, many uprooted and toppled-over oak trees. Oak trees grow in abundance in this part of the country, providing shade from the excruciatingly, hot sun and providing shelter to the abundant wildlife that live in the area. Although these trees grow magnificently tall and large, their root systems don’t grow deep enough to support their massive weight when a good, strong wind comes along, causing the tree to topple over and crumble. If the tree’s roots would grow deep, rather than stay close to the surface, they would not fall victim to the mighty winds that whip through their branches. The strength of the tree is not determined by its outward appearance, but rather, by what lies beneath the surface.

     The same premise holds true for us, as fellow believers in Christ. If our roots aren’t grounded deep in Jesus Christ and his Word, then the first, strong, mighty wind that comes along will knock us over and make us crumble. Surface Christianity looks good on the outside but has no depth or strength underneath. Many fall by the wayside due to lack of depth, and we sit idly by and watch it happen.

     How do you attain depth in the Lord? It can only come through sheer determination and desire to separate yourself from the worldly views and standards and make a deliberate attempt to study God’s Word, spend quality time in prayer and surround yourself with Godly friends and mentors that will pour truth into your life. Anything short of that will cause you to be what’s considered “a Sunday morning Christian”; having the appearance of Christianity but suffering severe damage when the winds of life start blowing through.

     I pray that today is a defining moment for you; one where you make a deliberate choice to go deep into God, putting aside the surface mentality that is so prevalent in today’s society.

     Where are you today? How deep are your roots? Are you knocked over and crumbled by the slightest wind? Jesus Christ has the ability to strengthen you if you will simply draw nearer to him. I challenge you to begin the strengthening process today, by spending 30 extra minutes in prayer and reading his Word. Ask the Lord for the desire to draw near to him.

Have a great day!