Lately I have been doing a lot of weeding. As the snow melted and the grass started turning green, dandelions began appearing as daily, constant, unwelcomed guests. I had three choices in their removal. The first was just to let the lawnmower chop off their heads. Yes, the evidence of their presence would be gone for a temporary time, but they would return. The second was to use a stand-up weeder. This is a much easier device for the one doing the exterminating. While remaining upright, a claw-like apparatus is plunged into the ground surrounding the unwanted plant, which, when maneuvered correctly, yanks the weed up and out. The problem with this tool is that it often doesn't work on first attempt. Sometimes the lawn is left with multiple, large holes because of repeated efforts. The final method is to get down on my knees, and using a proper hand-held utensil, slowly, precisely and individually, dig out the roots of each undesired culprit. I'll tell you, some of those dandelions have no intention of leaving. Their roots are deep and stubborn. And that's just a little dandelion. Now let's consider larger plants.
I read that some oaks and pines have been recorded as having roots that extend up to 400 feet! No hand-held instrument is going to move that evergreen! Apparently, the deepest roots are called "taproots" and they anchor the tree. For most plants, deeper is better. Shallow roots usually extend laterally, but without going deeper, their chance of reaching water in times of drought are minimized. The hidden power of any tree is the depth of their roots.
The same is true for Christ-followers. Our hidden power is in our roots. What enables us to have strength to stand through drought and storm is the soil we are rooted in, how deeply we are grounded and how well we are watered. Just as botanists can encourage root growth for the survival and productivity of a plant, there is much we as believers can do to help develop deep roots in the Lord.
It is in the hidden places, alone with the Lord where we cultivate growth. As we abide in Him, taking root downward, we bear fruit upward. Sustainable life is developed through relationship with Christ and understanding how immeasurably we are loved by God. Without this anchor, many other things will compete to unearth our foundation. "Let your roots grow deep down in Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness" (Colossians 2:7). Paul tells us in Ephesians 3 that we must be "rooted and grounded in love", having "strength to comprehend with all the saints the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge."
And there's the other key. In order to remain rooted and hyper-stand in today's culture, we need others. It's the "with all the saints" that reinforces our roots. A fascinating truth in the plant world is that it is the combination of a variety of roots helps them grow. The diversity of roots intermingled together enables each plant to grow stronger individually.
I heard a beautiful illustration recently of a group of tourists who decided to cross the Jordan River. The river can often be raging and flowing beyond anyone's ability to withstand its power. The entire group held hands, and if anyone began falling, there were arms on either side lifting them up. We need to be rooted with the church. God created us to grow with other believers. If we are lacking the nourishment and oxygen we require to grow deep, it may be because we are trying to be self-sustaining.
May our roots remain secure, "the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." (Isaiah 61:3)
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