A Community of Grace »

A vital component of any fruit-bearing plant is its root system. Roots absorb water and nutrients in order to ensure healthy plant growth. They also act as stabilizers, enabling plants to endure severe winds and storms that would threaten to destroy them.

We, as God’s children, possess new life. Christ dwells in us so that we might bear godly fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Abundant fruit production glorifies God and confirms that we are His children. Godly fruit production is dependent upon our root system being firmly anchored in the words and Spirit of Christ.

The soil of humility is the environment in which the roots of our being become strongly established in Christ. Recognizing our utter neediness for the holy life of Christ to exert power in us, we seek Him as our most vital necessity. Apart from Him, our root system quickly becomes diseased by the impurity of sin. Death to self and prideful ways allows the life of God to rise up in us. Others will live as we choose to be nourished by Christ.

Coming to Jesus in daily communion roots and firmly plants us in God’s love and truth. As we live in the soul-satisfying power of that great love, we will trust God enough to obey Him in all circumstances. In His unfailing love, the great “I AM” promises to work out the most impossible looking circumstances for our good, causing us to delight in obeying His words no matter how we feel.

Will you run to Jesus, rooting yourself more deeply in His truth, love and righteousness? When the storms of adversity come, they will be the fertilizer that is used to grow your root system more deeply into the boundless resources of Christ. As plant roots grow in the darkness of the earth, God will use seasons of dark trials to grow you in greater holy character as the roots of your being are deeply planted in Christ. In all seasons of life, you will bring forth an abundance of beautiful, godly fruit.

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

Colossians 2:6-7

Springtime is the season of awakening life. From the grey and death of winter, profusions of budding blossoms begin to bloom. Landscapes become magnificently arrayed in glorious color. What once was dead is now alive. Death is necessary to bring forth a season of new life.

In nature, God provides a visual parallel to the work that He accomplishes in the lives of His children. Once separated from Him, we were dead in our trespasses and sins. His Spirit awakened our souls from the deadness of living apart from Him. We were drawn to His everlasting love and mercy that were poured out on us through the giving up of His Son upon the cross of Calvary. Jesus’ death for our sins brought forgiveness and life to us. We were dead but now we are alive through faith in Christ.

God delivered us from sin and death in order to grow us up into His image as mature children, reflecting the beauty of His holiness. Jeremiah 31:3 and 20 tell us that God draws us to Himself by His everlasting love and kindness. His heart yearns for us to know His boundless love in ever-deepening experiential ways.

Just as the spring sunshine and rain cause new life to grow upon the earth, the Son of Righteousness is the source and sustenance of our new life in Him. As a flower turns its head towards the sun, we too must choose to keep our gaze fixed upon Jesus in steadfast communion with Him. As we respond to His love, obedience to His commands waters and nourishes the garden of our lives. Budding blossoms of goodness, righteousness and truth spring forth from our lives.

All seeds must die in order to germinate and produce life. Jesus bids you to follow His example in dying to sin so that His pure life may rise up in you. Will you humbly invite the Holy Spirit to daily till the soil of your heart with the words of Christ? The Master Gardener will cultivate in you a fragrant garden of abundant fruit.

“And The Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.”
Isaiah 58:11

“Not good enough.”

For many of us these words have been our constant companion, a heavy weight, an unfortunate reality. They’ve rung in our ears like a musical note that’s off-key. They’ve flashed before our eyes like a bright neon sign.

This belief invokes a myriad of reactions. Some of us avoid new challenges and opportunities, accepting defeat before we make an attempt. Others of us strive diligently, doing whatever it takes to become good enough. The latter approach often produces in us a need to be noticed and praised. It breeds a self sufficiency that leads to boasting as we seek the approval of others.

Yet for those of us with this struggle, there is hope! The apostle Paul spoke to a people who “wanted to make a good appearance outwardly.” He said to them, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world…the only thing that counts is a new creation” (Galatians 6:14-15). The cross made it possible for Christ to live in us. Our identity no longer has to come from our abilities. Jesus, who is perfect, all-knowing and all-sufficient, has become for us everything we need. He is enough!

When you face challenging circumstances, striving to face them in your own strength will always prove to be overwhelming. As you place your trust in Christ, believing that through Him you can do all things, He frees you from the heavy load that He never meant for you to carry. You don’t have to be good enough. He becomes your strength, providing everything that you need to walk victoriously through your problems.

What you do apart from Christ counts for nothing. What Christ in you can do counts for everything.

In what ways are you feeling not good enough? Will you seek Christ as your “more than enough”? He delights in being your sufficiency (Eph 3:20).