BEING ROOTED AND BUILT IN HIM
Colosians 2:1-8
I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firmyour faith in Christ is. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
Paul was concerned here about the spiritual welfare of the church especially when he heard about strange pagan theories creeping into the church. He urged them to be firmly rooted in Christ and hold on to the teachings they have had. We need to be careful so that we will not be tossed back and forth by every wind of doctrines and deceitfulness schemes of men according to; Ephesians 4:14
that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting
We should hold on the truths In God's word and draw up nourishment from the Lord, so that we can grow in faith. Paul urged believers to live by faith so they would become fIrmly established in their walk with Christ. We do that by focusing our thoughts on Him: what He has done, what He is doing now, and what He will do for us. We take a risk by depending completely on Him, obeying His commands, and putting His teaching into practice. Walking with Christ may sometimes be frightening, but it is the only way to make progress in our spiritual development. Are you walking with Him today?
To be rooted in Christ means that believers have been lirmiy connected to Jesus, like a branch is connected to a vine (John 15). It also means that our spiritual lifeis directly linked to Him
Galatians 2: 20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Please note that spiritual maturity is not becoming more independent; it is becoming more dependent on God. Being firmly rooted in Christ through His word, we are built up in Him Who is our solid foundation and this eventually results in spiritual growth and abundance of life. We should not be content with a partially constructed Spiritual life but keep building our Spiritual lives; for we cease to grow, when we cease to learn.