^{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.”
Colossians 2:6-7 ESV
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We’re (translation: hubby and begrudging 12-year-old) removing a tree – stump and all – from our backyard this week. From what I can tell, it’s a TON of tedious, sweaty work when you’re doing it by hand. He digs around the roots. He hacks at the roots to disconnect them from the full-length of their spread. He’s even taken a sledgehammer to the tree. He’s using whatever resource and strength he’s got to try and uproot this crab apple tree.

The most interesting part is that the tree doesn’t look that daunting when you glance at it. It’s trunk is only about a foot wide. My eyes tell me it’s a pretty easy target. But it’s roots are another story. Their spread is incredible. They twist and turn and wrap tightly to every square inch of ground around themselves. They stretch, looking for every source of water within reach. They are not going down without a fight. Every time we think it’s loose enough, we push and pull with all our might but it barely wiggles from it’s deeply held ground.

I can’t stop thinking about what a powerful thing roots are. God uses that concept in the Bible to describe how we should be connected to Him. After seeing how strong that concept is in a tree, I nearly cry thinking about how powerful that is in a God-human-connection.

This world may hack at me. It may dig and pull and push at the foundation I’m in, trying with all it’s might to uproot me. But if my roots are tangled and woven so deeply in love with my Savior, I’m not going anywhere. It’s going to take a lot more than one blow to uproot me.

So, what does that mean for my life today?

“My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7 MSG)

Do what you’ve been taught. Live it. And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.

It sounds so simple it makes me feel like a moron for all the times I over-complicate it. However, to be fair, my sister-in-law always says that “simple doesn’t mean EASY.” And it’s not. There are so many days that the blows and hacks of daily life make me feel like falling over and giving up.

But that’s when my roots keep me up.

It’s so incredible – I’m seriously dazed by the thought of it. What an amazing plan God created for us to stay strong and live well. SO. STINKING. COOL.

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Dear Lord, I’m sorry for all the times that I take your awesome plan for granted. Thank you for giving me parents who helped me grow roots – roots that have become twisted and tangled deeply around you. Help me bless my sons, my friends and my family with the same kind of root support. Help me live what I’ve been taught and let it spill over into thanksgiving. Amen.