“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
The Word of God is our foundation on which we stand. And if we weaken that foundation, we will collapse under the weight of sin and fail to live a strong and fruitful life in our journey of faith. Many Christians take things for granted and because their life at the present moment seems to be reasonably smooth and comfortable, they give little attention to their spiritual foundations; until it is too late.
When the trials and tests come, strong foundations will make a big difference. Panicking because we are aware our foundations may not help us prevail is pointless – it is simply too late. We cultivate our spiritual lives and build strength in the “good times” so to speak. We make provisions for the tough times that will surely come.
Bamboo plants have an underground network of horizontal stems that help the bamboo establish a strong root system, enabling it to support the rapid growth of stalks that become the fastest-growing plants on Earth. In traditional Chinese culture, bamboo represents the character of moral integrity, resistance, modesty and loyalty.
Today’s Scripture reminds us to build a deep and strong foundation in Christ. Just as a bamboo plant draws nourishment from its roots, we are to draw our strength and sustenance from our connection with Christ, allowing our faith to become stronger over time. We are encouraged to cultivate an attitude of gratitude, acknowledging God's grace and goodness in our lives.
There is no short-cut! Foundation building is hard work and requires consistent observance of the spiritual disciplines like, prayer, meditating on God’s Word, fasting, silence and solitude, worship and service. All these strengthen our walk and communion with the Lord. Each step we stake with him goes a long way in building strong foundations. It is not enough just to know that you have received Christ into your life. The Scripture before us today instructs us to RECEIVE and WALK, making sure we are firmly ROOTED and constantly BUILT UP in him.
Smart men walked on the moon, daring men walked on the ocean floor, but wise men walk with God. (Leonard Ravenhill)
Rev. Timothy Ewing-Chow