Colossians 2:6-7 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.

This chapter goes on to deal with such things as circumcision and asceticism that most of us don’t deal with much, but right here it speaks very simply in terms that relate to us all. The dictionary meaning is the same, but to me “rooted” doesn’t have the same flavor as the Japanese term, which speaks of “sticking down your roots,” which seems much more active. Being rooted in Christ is indeed a choice, and it is one the world tries hard to keep us from making. It is very obvious that all the “pro-choice” people are very particular about which choices they approve! The idea of being strengthened / firm / established in the faith seems quite straightforward, but the last instruction might surprise some people. The ESV says “abounding in thanksgiving,” and the NIV and Japanese say “overflowing with thankfulness/thanksgiving.” Too many people don’t understand how vital gratitude is to living a good life. For one thing, without gratitude, no one is truly happy. That’s the biggest problem with spoiling children: if they always get everything they ask for, they aren’t really grateful for any of it, and become terribly unhappy. We didn’t ask for salvation before we knew it was available, so we should be blown out of the water by its being given to us! One of the many reasons the Gospel of Jesus Christ is good news is that it’s so much better than anything we could ever generate on our own. The better we grasp that, the firmer our faith will be and the deeper we will want to push our roots into Christ and His Word.

We had a wonderful example of someone practicing this just yesterday. A sister brought the message, and I interpreted. She’s never been to college, much less seminary, but she is deeply rooted in the Word and absolutely delights in it. I’ve asked her to preach once a month, and it is a delight every time for me to interpret into English. It gives me great assurance that I’ve accomplished something in my time here! At one point this sister was clinically depressed, to the point that she literally couldn’t bring herself to leave her house, but now she is as radiant a disciple of Jesus Christ as you could hope to find. She is doing everything in this passage! She is a real encouragement to me, to not be discouraged by all the negative junk in life but rather rejoice in the goodness of God to me. “Overflowing with thankfulness” is definitely the way to go!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You that I’ll be able to have the lithotripsy (ESWL) today to deal with my ureteral calculus (kidney stone). I do pray that it would be fully effective so that they will be able to take out the stent in my ureter SOON! This has been quite an exercise in focusing on things other than my body, so I thank You for it all. May I quickly return to being able to be fully active physically, and especially, may I grow spiritually as You intend because of this whole experience, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!