Important Announcement: We recently updated and re-released our Worthy of the Calling Study. Not only did we go back through and update the study material, but we also created a printable version, a going-deeper guide, and an audio version. We hope that these additional resources will help even more people benefit from this transformative study of Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. Click here to learn more about this exciting update to a beloved Bible study!
Is your life rooted in Christ? Or are you dipping your rootless stem into the broken vase of this world?
One of my favorite things about having a massive garden in my backyard is the ability to cut fresh flowers to adorn little red writing desk each week.
This summer I grew daisies, giant zinnias, cosmos, yarrow, snapdragons, and several other colorful blooms.
I’d fill a big 5-gallon bucket with freshly cut blooms and invite my daughters to help arrange the flowers in mason jars to set about the house.
Nothing brings the joy of summer into my heart and home like fresh-cut flowers in mason jars.
I’m always amazed at how quickly those tender blossoms begin to fade.
It shouldn’t surprise me.
In order to bring those flowers inside, I’ve had to cut them off from their true life-source.
Their roots.
And although the water I provide meets their immediate needs, it’s a poor substitute.
Is your life rooted in Christ or are you dipping your stem into the broken vase of this world?In the same way, God designed you and me to blossom and flourish in His garden.
And we will flourish!
So long as we remain rooted in Christ.
So long as we look to the Bible to nourish and protect us.
So long as we don’t allow the world to pluck us from our life-source.
There have been seasons in my life where I’ve ignored the needs of my spiritual root system and foolishly expected the world’s “substitute life-source” to sustain me.
And for a moment or two, it seemed I didn’t need roots after all.
But slowly and surely, my beauty faded, my body wilted, and my broken stem lost it’s ability to provide me with the nourishment I needed to survive.
Apart from Christ, my life fragile and my spirit is deteriorating.
Apart from Christ, my life is fragile and my spirit is deteriorating.
But what does it mean to be rooted in Christ?
I must admit, I struggled to fully grasp this concept until I dedicated my summer to studying the book of Ephesians.
I was astounded to discover Paul used the phrase in Christ (or in Him) 27 times in the book of Ephesians alone.
And he used this same phrase more than 80 times in his New Testament writings.
Wow, that’s a lot!
One of the most valuable Bible study tips I’ve received is to search for repeated phrases and ideas in the text.
“If the author took the time to say it more than once, it must be important.”
If the author took the time to say it more than once, it must be important.Just as parents repeatedly remind young children to use their manners and hold hands when crossing a street, God repeats important truths in His Word.
If Paul took the time to repeat this particular phrase in each of his writings, it must be important!
Let’s take a moment to look at five select instances Paul used the phrase in Christ in his writing.
I believe these tiny snapshots of biblical truth will flash an illuminating light on this radical concept.
Five Reasons to Root Your Life In Christ
Ephesians 1:4 says, “God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world.”
In Christ, we are chosen.
Ephesians 1:7 says, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
In Christ, we are forgiven.
2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
In Christ, we are righteous.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
In Christ, we are made new.
Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
In Christ, all our needs are met!
God loved you so much He sacrificed His only son to purchase your redemption.
You are no longer a slave to sin.
You are adopted into God’s family, a beloved son or daughter, an heir to the inheritance, and His treasured possession.
If you are anything like me, you are finding this truth a bit overwhelming.
Confusing, even.
Because I don’t always feel…well…I don’t always feel worthy of this extraordinary gift!
As I unpacked the beautiful truths of Ephesians, I discovered why the Apostle Paul was so passionate about conveying this specific truth.
Paul desperately wants us to understand who we are in Christ so he can teach us how to walk with Christ.
In order to walk with Christ, we must first understand who we are in Christ.We are a beautiful, yet fragile, flower.
Christ is our root system; we need Him to survive.
The people of this world have no roots, so they do the best they can without them. They have no choice but to try to hobble through life with an alternate life-source.
But you and me, we’ve got roots.
Deep, nourishing, abiding roots!
Are we utilizing them?
At the beginning of this article, I confessed there have been many seasons I’ve failed to root my life in Christ.
Because the depth of my roots is determined by the nourishment I provide to those roots.
Every gardener knows a flower requires three things to survive: water, soil, and sunshine.
Where does our spiritual nourishment come from?
Jesus tells us in Matthew 4:4, when he says, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
God’s Word nourishes our spiritual roots.
And unless we are feasting on His Word on a regular basis, we are growing a weak and vulnerable life.
God has given us access to all of the spiritual nourishment we need to thrive, but we must turn on the faucet and invite the living waters to rush over us.
Unless we feast on God's Word regularly, we are growing a weak and feeble life.Understanding who we are in Christ and choosing to root our lives in Christ is the only way to establish a fragrant and fruitful life.
No matter our circumstance!
Or, in the words of the prophet Jeremiah, “Blessed is the man who trusts in God, the woman who sticks with God. They’re like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers—Never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf. Serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season (MSG).”
I was drawn to the book of Ephesians because I immediately related to Paul’s passion for the church at Ephesus.
He wanted them to know God’s beautiful design for their lives; he wanted them to understand all they had access to in Christ.
I felt that same passion and desire as I crafted the Worthy of the Calling Study at my little red writing desk.
If your life feels a bit wilted, if your root system is a bit under-nourished, I want to personally invite you to join me for the 31-day “Worthy of the Calling Online Bible Study.”
Together we will discover who God says we are in Christ and how He equips us to walk worthy of our heavenly calling.
All you need is 15-minutes per day, a mobile device, and an open heart. There is no charge and no strings attached.
All you need is 15-minutes per day, a mobile device, and an open heart.Thank you for vising my blog. I pray your time spent here has been worthwhile, and I hope you join us for the Worthy of the Calling Bible Study.
It’s going to be AWESOME!
