Growing Our Roots

As discussed in a previous post, we are blessed if we are firmly rooted in God and suffer if we are not. So how do we grow our roots? Let’s look at both plants and scripture.

Plants grow their roots by combining what they take in through their existing roots with other aspects of their being. They absorb water and nutrients through whatever roots they have. They put those things together with the energy they take in through photosynthesis. They incorporate all that into their own inherent nature to produce growth, including growth in their roots. In other words, they grow their roots by making what they absorb through them a real part of themselves.

It’s the same with us. We grow our roots—our relationship with God—when we put what we absorb through it to work. We first draw guidance and instruction, our spiritual nutrition, through our existing roots. We do that by listening to God through prayer, studying/meditating on scripture, worship, and interaction with other believers. We put those insights to work by actively, intentionally, consistently, applying them. That’s combining them with the other aspects of our life: the other resources God gives us and our very nature. The result is growth in all areas, including our relationship with God—our roots. We therefore grow our roots by incorporating what they give us into all aspects of our lives.

Scripture reflects that dynamic: that we grow by putting what God shows us into practice. Jesus repeatedly taught that we are blessed when we act on—implement—what God tells us. He promises blessings generally, Luke 11:28, John 13:17, and describes some of the forms those blessings can take. They include increased intimacy with and knowledge of God, John 14:21 and 23, increased substance, Matthew 5:19(b), and increased ability to withstand difficulty. Matthew 7:24-25; Luke 6:47-48. His disciples related the same dynamic, no doubt describing what they experienced. James 1:21-25, 1 John 2:5-6. The Old Testament also describes how we are blessed by consistently living by God’s instructions. Deuteronomy 11:8, Isaiah 56:1-2.

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