This article is written by Sacha of Clothed with Dignity as part of the Deeply Rooted series. To submit a guest blog, click here.
“Be deeply rooted,” is an encouragement we’ve received from many Christian leaders. But what does it really look like? What comes to your mind when you hear the words “be deeply rooted”?
For me, I think about plants with big, deep roots in the ground. Imagine a giant tree in the forest that has grown over several, several years, and the roots are growing deep inside the rich soil.
Another thing that comes to mind is Jesus talking about Him being the true vine, and us being the branches, in John 15. As born-again Christians, we abide in Christ, and He abides in us. We cannot produce fruit as a branch by ourselves; we need to be a part of the vine. This metaphor that Jesus spoke about in John 15:1-6 gives us a better understanding of what it means to be deeply rooted.
When we abide in Christ, we must abide by His words, by doing His will in our lives, bearing good fruit for His glory, and keeping His commandments. Jesus also wants us to abide in His love, for He loved us first.
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving”
Colossians 2:6-7
Paul illustrated for us that the foundation for our faith is in our roots with Christ, reminding us that these roots can be established by our faith in Jesus. When we believe in The Lord Jesus Christ as Our Lord and Savior, our roots start to form and grow in Christ, thus giving us the solid foundation for our faith in Him.
Jesus also wants us to abide in His love, for He loved us first.
Sacha of @clothedwithdignityco
Based upon these scriptures, we gain a better understanding as to what “be deeply rooted” means. Let’s take a look at 5 ways for us to become deeply rooted in truth and grace:
5 Ways to Be Deeply Rooted In Truth and Grace
1. Spend Time On Building Your Relationship With Jesus
When a plant is first planted in the ground, it needs extra attention and care in order for the roots to become fully established and grow correctly. Just like when someone first gets saved, they need more love, care, and attention to them so that they can be encouraged in the right way to start their new lives with Christ on the right foot.
We need to spend time on building our relationship with Jesus, and having a strong desire to learn more about Him and His love for us. This can be done by reading God’s Word, praying daily, worshipping and glorifying Him, and submitting to God and doing His Will in our lives.
2. Be Deeply Rooted In The Word of God
How on Earth do we expect ourselves to grow and mature in the faith, to build strong roots and foundations in our lives, if we are not reading and studying His Word?
In 2 Timothy 2:15, the Bible says to study to show ourselves approved unto God. We need to make sure that we take time out of the day to spend time with God in His Word.
If you are struggling to do this, find some free bible reading plans, or Christian devotionals, to help get you started with staying consistent in reading the Bible each day.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
3. Submit To God
As Christians, we see God as our Heavenly Father. We love Him because He first loved us. He knows everything about us, past, present, and future. He counts the very hairs on our heads and created us all so perfectly and uniquely. As such, we need to fully submit to Him and trust that He will guide us on the right path.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding”
Proverbs 3:5-6
He already has established a path for us that is intended for us to follow. We need to submit and do everything in accordance to His Will and not our own. Our lives change, for the better, when we become born-again. We have a chance to start again; a fresh start, a new beginning. This is our opportunity to grow in truth and grace and see all of the wonderful things that we can do for God and He can do for us, in our lives.
4. Find Your Purpose & Identity
It is important for us, as Christians to find our purpose and live that out, for God’s glory. When we are born-again, our identity is in Christ.
We no longer desire to live for the world, because we want to follow Jesus. We came to Jesus because we found the truth about who He is, and what He has done for us. We rejoice in Him knowing that our sins are forgiven and our slate is wiped clean with the blood that Jesus shed for us on the cross at Calvary. We no longer want to live the way that we used to, for we desire to live a more Holy and righteous life; a life that God intends for us to live.
It takes time to find our purpose. As long as we fully submit to God, obey Him, study His Word, and grow and mature in the faith, we will find what we are looking for. Our roots will become even stronger and more established once we find our purpose.
5. Produce Good Fruit For God
God wants us to produce good fruit. Just because we are saved and forgiven of our sins, does not mean that we should continue sinning, or living the same life we once had before we came to Christ. We are given a fresh start; now we are a part of the True Vine that is Jesus.
Our salvation doesn’t come from being good enough or through our own works, but through our faith in Jesus and His love for us. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross has allowed us to be planted in Him. Every day that we live for Christ, we will bear good fruit (Matthew 7:16-20).
We can produce good fruit by walking with Christ, picking up our cross and following Him daily (Luke 9:23), doing His Will and increasing in our knowledge for His Word (Colossians 1:10).
To be deeply rooted is a long-term process; it doesn’t happen overnight. Each day we must surrender ourselves to Christ as we grow deeper in truth and grace. This is an opportunity for us to strengthen our faith and love in Jesus and to fully depend on Him to keep us grounded.
To be deeply rooted is a long-term process; it doesn’t happen overnight.
Sacha, clothedwithdignityco
