40 Days Blog - Day 31
Sycamore and Ash seeds get everywhere. They take root in the garden, in the gravel, even in the gutter. They start to grow wherever they land, but that does not mean they are secure. Perhaps I will pluck them out, or the lawnmower will cut them down.
One Ash tree in my garden is growing through an old pin harrow. It found the right place to root perhaps fifty years ago. Underneath the sharp metal tines of an unused piece of equipment, no cattle could eat the seedling, it was too well protected. The tree and pin harrow are now a feature in our garden, merged together, as the tree absorbed the machine that protected it. A safe place for a tree to root.
Where is it safe for us to take root? Where do we lay the foundation that governs our life?
In one place alone. In Christ.
We put down roots in many good and bad places. We like to put roots in tradition. Tradition is not bad, but it is not Christ. Just because we did something the same way since at least my great-grandpa, doesn’t mean it’s the best thing to do.
We like to put roots in innovation. Just because something is new and exciting, doesn’t make it better. Church history, political thinking, philosophy, logic, art etc. can all be good and useful. They can provide much benefit, but are not the place to root ourselves.
In this growing Colossae Church people were putting roots in circumcision. This was the sign of the old covenant and means they were forcing new believers to keep the associated Old Testament laws. There is a temptation to the old ways of doing things, and the very visible outworkings of unrequired religious practice.
Circumcision involved spilling blood, a picture of the sacrifice needed to bring us to God. That foreshadowing has been fulfilled. So, Paul takes that image to remind people what is important: the circumcision in Christ is to put to death the old life and be raised to the new. We were dead in our trespasses, the debt we owe is paid, so we live in the power of the cross.
We are alive in Christ. So, let us be rooted and grow, in Him.
A Prayer
Lord, we are new in You, let us be new creatures. In our zeal, help us not to create stumbling blocks for ourselves or others. Give us the wisdom to know what is of You and what we have simply become accustomed to. Keep us rooted in Christ. Put His words in our heart, that we would be wise. Make His love, our love, that we would shine before others.
Amen.
Listen to today's reading and blog post below...