28th April 2022
The root cause
… you are God’s garden and vineyard and field under cultivation …
1 Corinthians 3:9 (AMPC))
All gardeners are aware of roots because a healthy root system is essential for ongoing sturdy growth and beautiful plants. Good balanced soil is also essential for plants to feed on, as well as light and, of course, adequate moisture.
Surprisingly, if we take a close look at the Christian life, we will discover that all these ingredients are essential for healthy, growing, and maturing followers of Jesus Christ. Bringing forth good and abundant fruit is a major goal of this lifestyle! This is amply explained in the header scripture above – we are a work in progress by God. But perhaps we should consider these following scriptures to get a better understanding of how our Father brings this about.
The Apostle Paul writes about roots: ‘And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is…’ (Ephesians 3:17-18 TLB emphasis mine).
John informs us about light: ‘This is the message God has given us to pass on to you: that God is Light and in him is no darkness at all… But if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ does, then we have wonderful fellowship and joy with each other, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from every sin.’ (1 John 1:5, 7 emphasis mine).
John also mentions water in his gospel writings. Notice these words of Jesus: ‘… “ Let anyone who is thirsty, come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive …’ (John 7: 37-39 NIV emphasis mine).
These ingredients (a strong root system, good soil, lots of water and light) will cause us to grow in the garden of God and bring us to maturity in the body of Christ, allowing us to reflect the love, compassion, mercy, and kindness of our Father, in Jesus Christ.
Finally, in the words of Jesus: “My true disciples produce bountiful harvests. This brings great glory to my Father.” (John 15: 8 TLB).
Prayer
Loving Father, help me to send my roots deep into the soil of your amazing love, that I may grow more like your Son every day. Amen.
Study by Cliff Neill
About the writer:
Cliff Neill is a Minister in the Hemel Hempstead congregation of Grace Communion International, where he is on the leadership team.
Local congregation:
GCI Hemel Hempstead
Adeyfield Free Church Centre
Maylands Avenue
Hemel Hempstead HP2 4GZ
Meeting time:
Sunday 10:30am
Hemel Hempstead is also on Zoom, please email congregational contact below to get the link
Local congregational contact:
Shirley McLean
Email: hemel@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church