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Proverbs 12:3 A man shall not be established by wickedness:
but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.I believe that we can establish some clear connections from Scripture on this subject of roots to the subject of the Christian Home. Many plants and trees have what we call a "tap root." The tap root is that main root from which the other roots on the plant sprout. If you have ever pulled dandelions out of your lawn you have seen a classic specimen of a plant with a tap root. There are other plants that have this system of roots and many trees have a tap roots system. We even eat some form of tap roots, such as, carrots, beets, and radishes. Tap roots contain water, nutrients, and provide stability for the tree or plant which has this kind of root system. It is obvious that root systems are very important for the growth of plants. Note how God uses this analogy to describe an aspect of the Christian life:The Bible has several references concerning the subject of roots. The word 'root' can be used as a verb or a noun. Note:
In the following it is used as a verb.
1Kings 14:15 For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger.However, in most of the verses where this word and its derivatives are found in God's word we find that it is used as a noun:
Job 29:19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.Note what Mr. Webster has to say about roots:
That part of a plant which enters and fixes itself in the earth, and serves to support the plant in an erect position, while by means of its fibrils it imbibes nutriment for the stem, branches and fruit.Other definitions which he includes are:
—Root of bitterness, in Scripture, any error, sin or evil that produces discord or immorality.
—To take root, to become planted or fixed; or to be established; to increase and spread.
—to take deep root, to be firmly planted or established; to be deeply impressed.Psalm 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Matthew 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love…
Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.I believe that developing spiritual roots is very important for any person. We live in a world that emphasizes the physical, but God dwells in the spiritual world, and we must meet Him on a spiritual plane.
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
On a spiritual level I believe that we need to be planted, nourished and cultivated by God Himself, and the first step is to be firmly planted in the good soil of Salvation.
Colossians 1:2 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Grounded and settled in the faith is a plain reference to the salvation provided freely by Jesus Christ. Are you saved?
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
So a person who wants a good root system must first be grounded, planted in Bible Salvation. Not church membership, not water baptism, not good works, but good old-fashioned Bible Salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Above we noted that good roots contain water, nutrients and provide stability. Water is sometimes used as a symbol of the word of God. So it follows that our spiritual root system must have a good supply of water — the word of God.
Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word…
John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
You and I must take time out of our busy lives to let the Lord Jesus Christ speak to us through His word — the Bible. Yes, the Tap Root of God's word is essential to our Christian lives. Not only does the word of God provide the water that we need, it provides the spiritual nutrients that will allow us to grow.
Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
1Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.Yes, the stability that we must have in this changing, chaotic world is to be found in the word of God. Years ago we were in the U.S. Navy and stationed in Key West, FL. We were living in military housing, and a tree company came through and started trimming branches off the tall beautiful pine trees in our housing area. We called the housing office and complained about how they were ruining our trees. They explained that purging the branches off the trees caused the trees to expand their root system and gave them increased stability to withstand the winds and storms that sometimes blow through the Keys. Does this ring a bell?
John 15:1- 8Please read God has to purge us so that we expand our root system. Trials and troubles come for a variety of reasons. One is that we might develop good roots so that we can withstand the storms of life. It is vital to our spiritual life that we have this good tap root system.
Another aspect of having a good root system in our Christian life is the importance of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot over emphasize the importance of a good church in providing the stability, nutrients, and water in the life of a born-again child of God.
1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. In order to have a good, strong, stable marriage and home, you must have a good root system with a tap root that goes down deep.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
We exhaust our time and strength in this world growing the wrong things. Money, houses, land, and material possessions seem to be the focus of our lives. We should do as our Lord has commanded:
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
God establishes a priority here that cannot be ignored if we are to have strong, joyous families. We must put God first if we are to have the water, nutrients and stability that we must have in this sinful and wicked world. These scripturally based families will give us strong churches that will have an impact on the world around us.
How is Your Root system? How is your foundation?
