3rd. May. 2021. Daily Devotion.
Colossians 2:6-7.
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7.
More horticultural thoughts from Julia Prins Vanderveen:
Paul doesn’t refer specifically to trees as he writes to the Colossians, he does borrow the image of being rooted in Christ—and that leads to living a life that is built up, strong, and overflowing with the fruit of gratitude.
The word for “rooted” in this verse is the Greek word rhizoo, and this is the root word for our English word “rhizome”—a continuously growing horizontal underground stem that sends up shoots to grow above ground. But the verb in Greek is written in a passive tense, which means that rather than putting the emphasis on the believer to be rooted, the emphasis is on how we are being rooted by Christ and in him because of his work in us. When we receive Christ, he will render us firm, fixed, and established. And he will cause us to be thoroughly grounded in him.
It changes everything to know that Christ will do this in us and for us as we trust in him. We’re invited to continue to receive him and to allow his work in us to continually build us up. This is the mutual and deeply personal communion that we enjoy with Christ: we abide in him, and he abides in us.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for giving us your love, for inviting us to dwell in you and to receive your love so that we may be rooted and built up in you, strengthened in faith and overflowing with thankfulness. Amen.
To Appreciate God’s Creation
Lord God may all of your creation – from the vastness of mighty planets and stars to the lowliness of the smallest living creature I can see – remind me to live in wonder and appreciation of all that is around me. Amen.
Prayer for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Christ Jesus, before ascending into heaven, You promised to send the Holy Spirit to Your apostles and disciples. Grant that the same Spirit may perfect in my life the work of Your grace and love, and that I may bear my cross with You and, with courage, overcome the obstacles that interfere with my salvation; Teach me to be Your faithful disciple and animate me in every way with Your Spirit. Amen.
We lift up our voices
Merciful God, we place into your care all the refugees and migrants, especially the Rohingya and all who venture across the Mediterranean Sea and the English Channel in search of a better life.
God who hurts with humanity, we lift up our voices and pour out our hearts to you, in sadness and grief, for those who don’t have anyone to hear their suffering and pain, for those who don’t have anyone to love and care, for those who don’t have anyone to tell their stories and especially for those who have been suffering due to this pandemic and struggling with coronavirus to see another day in their life. We pray for their courage of heart and strength of mind and body.
Keep them safe from harm. Amen.
Prayer: Inmanuel Chayan Biswas, who works for Caritas Bangladesh in Cox’s Bazaar refugee camp.
