Taking Root Downward and Bearing Fruit Upward
Another Bible turn of phrase that captures my mind's eye and wins my heart is found in 2 Kings 19:30--
Here is a promise of the restoration of the people of Israel, a promise of both depth and fruit. This image of strong, deep, and fruitful living in God and by His zealous grace (2 Kings 19:31) is rich, and it rewards some reflection.
It's been said somewhere that Christianity in America is about 3,000 miles wide and a half-an-inch deep. This may account for why we have so little effect on our culture and neighbors: we seem about as shallow as everyone else! What we need is depth; roots going deep into the things of God, the wonders of grace, the glories of our Savior and Lord.
We need to be people who have tasted and seen the good things of God; people who have beheld the Glory and been transformed by it (2 Corinthians 3:17, 18); people who have thought beyond the cliches and lived in the shadow of the Almighty. If we do not go deep with God, we'll really not go very far for or with God. Fruit upward and outward will be proportionate to roots downward.
There is no easy method for taking root downward. It involves study, prayer, meditation, a renunciation of the world, a love of theology (more precisely, a love of the God revealed through Bible theology), an embrace of suffering as a means of grace and a cathartic for the soul, a welcoming of true probing fellowship with other beievers to help us see the real issues and needs of our inner being, and a faithful attendance to real preaching of God's Word. All this and more sends the roots of grace deeper into Christ and in the end causes us to bear much fruit of holiness, joy, worship and love within.
Take some time today to stay put on some truth about God or grace long enough to have it sink a little deeper into your spirit. Don't be a perpetual spiritual taste-tester who never really swallows and digests. Get hold of some truth and then hang on to it until it gets hold of you.
Go deep with God.
And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward.
Here is a promise of the restoration of the people of Israel, a promise of both depth and fruit. This image of strong, deep, and fruitful living in God and by His zealous grace (2 Kings 19:31) is rich, and it rewards some reflection.
It's been said somewhere that Christianity in America is about 3,000 miles wide and a half-an-inch deep. This may account for why we have so little effect on our culture and neighbors: we seem about as shallow as everyone else! What we need is depth; roots going deep into the things of God, the wonders of grace, the glories of our Savior and Lord.
We need to be people who have tasted and seen the good things of God; people who have beheld the Glory and been transformed by it (2 Corinthians 3:17, 18); people who have thought beyond the cliches and lived in the shadow of the Almighty. If we do not go deep with God, we'll really not go very far for or with God. Fruit upward and outward will be proportionate to roots downward.
There is no easy method for taking root downward. It involves study, prayer, meditation, a renunciation of the world, a love of theology (more precisely, a love of the God revealed through Bible theology), an embrace of suffering as a means of grace and a cathartic for the soul, a welcoming of true probing fellowship with other beievers to help us see the real issues and needs of our inner being, and a faithful attendance to real preaching of God's Word. All this and more sends the roots of grace deeper into Christ and in the end causes us to bear much fruit of holiness, joy, worship and love within.
Take some time today to stay put on some truth about God or grace long enough to have it sink a little deeper into your spirit. Don't be a perpetual spiritual taste-tester who never really swallows and digests. Get hold of some truth and then hang on to it until it gets hold of you.
Go deep with God.
Labels: christian life, Culture War, Spiritual disciplines
posted by Tim Shorey at
3:15 PM
6 Comments:
Thanks for the good word on going deeper with God. Meditation takes time and effort, but, yes, it is so rewarding. It is so much easier to wade in the shallow water for much of our Christian life, than to learn to swim in the deep (and enjoy it) with God. My wife and I are reading through "Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life...For the Purpose of Godliness" by Don Whitney. A great resource for the process of "rooting deeper".
Thanks for the encouragement!
The way of the cross, the way of Christ is a continual quest for more, more of God, more of grace, more of the transforming presence of God.
Too often we settle for something far less; a kind of surface faith that neither satisfies the soul within nor glorifies the Father above.
It sure is good to be in the quest along side of like-minded believers like yourselves.
C.S. Lewis said, "We are far too easily pleased."
I have sure found that true in my own walk.
Thanks for the reminder to follow HARD after Him.
Since I don't know how often you check comments in past posts, and since I'm only catching up on the past several days now, a suggestion connected to one that was made following your excellent and timely thoughts on abortion: You may or may not be aware of the Toms River Times, a tabloid sized paper that appears in my driveway once or twice a week. They have a stated policy of printing "all letters...as space allows unless deemed offensive by the editorial staff, and provided they are signed and include address & phone number for verification." If the APP isn't courageous enough to print it, maybe this one will. It needs to be given as wide a hearing as possible. Keep up the good work, brother! tdb
Thanks Tim,
I will check into this. The APP is still a possibility if I use a little strategy and connect it to a specific current event in the news.
They've said no as a stand alone letter but would consider it if it's sent in in response to a news article. Also I've had a little several email conversation with the person in charge and if the Lord wills I can see a little opening coming.
Hey everyone: keep praying.
Once again all, that last comment was Tim's via Gayline's account!
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