When I used to run (competitively), I purchased special shoes from a “running store.” I have weird feet that match the rest of me. Therefore, when I was trying on a shoe, the sales specialist wanted to see me walk. With an eye close to the floor, the specialist would analyze my stride and select the shoe of perfect nuance for me.
We do not all walk the same. Just as my new running shoes corrected my oddities of foot movement, Jesus corrects the lives of sinners. More accurately, He completely changes them forever when they trust in Him.
The Apostle Paul had to remind the church at Colossae of this truth. “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.” (Colossians 2:6-7, ESV). False teachers had infiltrated the ranks of the church fellowship. Paul was reminding them whom they must follow.
The phrase “in Christ” or “in Jesus” is used by the Apostle eighty-eight times in the letters to the church. A person can attempt to live “above” Christ, as if He does not exist or offer any benefit. A person can live “below” Christ, believing the lie of Satan that he or she has done too many sinful things to be forgiven. Another person can attempt to live “alongside of” Christ, viewing Him as an added bonus to one’s life. The call of the Gospel, however, is to live “in Christ.” This new life is a complete and wonderful “take over” of our lives by our Lord.
What does it mean to live “in Christ?” Paul explains briefly with three points in this verse. If he were describing the growth of a tree, it would look like this: First, we must take root into something that will provide all that we need. Second, we must be built up and supported. Finally, when the plant is ready, it bursts forth with abundant fruit.
If our lives are “rooted” in Christ, we will seek Him for life-sustaining nutrients. Just as a sapling will plunge its roots deep into the soil to find water, we must immerse ourselves in the life-giving Word of our Lord. To know Him and grow deeper in our delight in God is to become rooted in an everlasting spring of joy and hope.
If we are “established in the faith” then we will walk without fear. Putting aside the shackles of sin, the hindrances of insecurity, and the burden of doubt, we can walk unhindered. Our faith is in Christ alone. We cannot grow in Christ if we are relying on anyone or anything else to build our character, or if we are simply desiring the admiration of others.
I enjoy growing garden vegetables, especially tomatoes. Much care and tending must occur to successfully produce a healthy crop. Once a tomato plant reaches a particular height, it needs support. Without a stake or a cage, the plant will bend and break during the wind of a thunderstorm or become overwhelmed by the weight of the fruit. Establishment requires support and guidance.
In due time, a firmly rooted, well-supported plant will grow to produce something miraculous. The effort and investment provides the first “tomato sandwich” in July (something all Amicks eagerly await). In the same way, a person who is rooted and established in Christ will burst forth in thanksgiving and praise to the Lord. A thankful Christian does not need a particular environment or circumstance for which to delight in God. The joy overflows from the well of his or her heart and cannot be stopped.
John Piper states, “God is most glorified in me when I am completely satisfied in Him.” This place is where worship, true worship, begins. I pray that each of us would be found “in Christ” each day.
Shepherding Well 