Rooted

My question today is where are you primarily rooted? Being rooted and grounded implies we are well fed and thriving. What might this look like in our lives?

Our lives are full of different kinds of roots. There are physical locations, generational/family roots, social and economic, as well as emotional and spiritual roots. You may think of others. To rephrase the opening question: which of your roots would you choose as your primary source of nourishment?

I am led today to say as little from me as possible. I have set the table for deeper contemplation, with invitations from the Creator of all things. Please find a time and place to slow down and interact with the Word, ideally in context. With a sanctified imagination, picture yourself where you want to be rooted asking for help to get there if you need to.

Warnings

The word warns us against tolerating roots of bitterness. Deuteronomy 29;  Hebrews 12:15

Too much reliance on money. 1 Timothy 6:10

The treacherous will be rooted out of the land. Proverbs 2:22

Roots can become dried up and die. (Lots of passages)

Realities

The Lords cleared land for His children and they took deep root and filled the land. Psalm 80:9

The root of the righteous bears fruit. Proverbs 12:12

Jesus comes from the root of Jesse. Isaiah 11:10

Promises

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8

The root of the righteous will never be moved. Proverbs 12:3

Instructions

⁶ Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. ⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits^[a] of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, ¹⁰ and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” 

Paul’s prayer

^“14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[c] in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

^“20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21