Christians, my wife and I used to occasionally walk along a specific path with many trees around it. At one point there were trees and shrub bushes that grew over the path. It was really annoying to walk around them, and we wanted them gone. One day, to our surprise, we walked along the path and they were gone, well, most of them. Someone had twisted, ripped and tore all the branches off that were in the way, all the way to the stump! It was great, we walked on by and were very happy.
Then, about 6 to 8 months later we found ourselves walking on this path again, to our surprise, they were back. In fact, they looked like they had never left, to be honest, they actually looked a bit bigger. In that moment, God gave me the revelation: they didn’t remove the roots. Trees and shrub bushes are resilient. A tree will continue to put out new growth, as long as the roots are intact. You know what is even more resilient? Sin.
As Christians, God is often taking us through tests and trials, it feels like He is digging deep, removing things from our lives, and He IS! You see, we can cut back, remove the branches of sin in our lives, they look gone, they feel gone, but if there is a root system, it will come back. Potentially BIGGER! I think the main idea we need to receive is to embrace the root removal.
I know that it is easier said than done. I have been through root removal in my life and it was VERY VERY difficult, but worth it. We can say we don’t have issues with Anger, BItterness, Resentment, Offense, Hate, Lust, Greed, Envy, or Idolatry. We can act and ‘look like’ nothing is wrong. Other people may even enjoy being around us, and notice that these issues are gone from our lives. Warning fellow Christians, we have to make sure there are no roots!
We have to look at the good work that Jesus started in our lives as a process. Sometimes a painful one, where He wants to remove all sin and impurity from our lives, to make us better, stronger, purer, cleaner children for His Glory. The next time you feel God rooting around in the deep places of your heart, instead of pulling away and trying to close up, grab the Word of God. Use it as a tool to help Him sort through, DIGGING out all the roots, until the issues are not just resolved – they are gone, for good, forever, in Jesus name, Amen.
For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender shoots will not cease. Though it’s root may grow old in the earth, and it’s stump may die in the ground, Yet at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant. Job 14:7-9 (NLT)
For behold, the day comes that shall burn like an oven, and all the proud and arrogant, yes, and all that do wickedly and are lawless, shall be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. Malachi 4:1 (AMP)
The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Luke 3:9 (NIV)
Then the disciples came to [Jesus] and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.” Matthew 15:12-13 (NIV)
The wicked covet the catch of evil men, But the root of the righteous yields fruit. Proverbs 12:12 (NLT)
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV)
written and posted by Daniel Poggensee | 2016
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