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We all strive for growth, whether it is making headway in our career path, making financial progress, or even the constant desire to attain success. However, just as a coin has two sides that give it authenticity and balance, our growth and development also consist of interconnected and multifaceted indicators.
The Tree Analogy
If we consider how a plant or tree grows, the root system is responsible for absorbing water and nutrients from the soil, while the branches are responsible for photosynthesis and providing support for leaves and flowers. Both the root and branches are essential parts of a plant's anatomy and contribute to its overall health and growth.
The metaphor of 'roots and branches' can also be seen as the balance for achieving holistic growth in our spiritual lives. Just as a tree needs both strong roots and healthy branches to grow and thrive, we need to cultivate both inward and outward aspects of our faith to achieve balance and completeness. Thus, being rooted in Christ and bearing fruits for Him are two parallel and simultaneous progress of the Christian faith.
These concepts refer to the fundamental belief that true Christianity is not just about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but also about living a life that is in accordance with His teachings and principles. On the one hand, having strong roots represents the inward aspect of our faith. This includes building a strong foundation in Christ and developing a deep understanding of God's character and His plan for our lives. On the other hand, having healthy branches represents the outward aspect of our faith. Together, the roots and branches of our faith work in harmony to produce holistic growth and fruitfulness. If we focus too much on one aspect of our faith over the other, we may become imbalanced and hinder our growth.
The Spiritual Root & Fruit
From a biblical perspective, taking root below and bearing fruits above can be interpreted in several ways.
1. Foundation and Fruitfulness:
First, it can be interpreted as a metaphor for spiritual formation and fruitfulness. Just as a tree requires strong roots to bear fruit, Christians require a solid foundation in their faith and a strong relationship with God to produce good works and bear spiritual fruit. Different worldviews, opinions, and knowledge patterns make navigating the world we live in difficult. Angling our ladder against the wrong wall and working hard towards it, gets us to the wrong place faster. However, laying a solid foundation ensures we stay on the right track. This is reflected in the words of Jesus in John 15:5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
2. Salvation and Sanctification
Second, taking root below and bearing fruit above can be a metaphor for the sanctification process, in which believers grow in their faith and become more Christ-like over time. As believers continue to abide in Christ, their lives will bear witness to the Holy Spirit's transforming power, producing the fruit of the Spirit such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). The self-righteousness deeds do not produce these fruits, but through the righteousness that Christ gained for us. Being connected to Him as the root below allows us to be attributed with His character, thereby producing the fruits of Christ's righteousness above.
Therefore, suppose the root of our desire is solely to gain knowledge of God and remain intellectual in spiritual matters, we become blinded to the outward manifestations of the Holy Spirit. In that case, our religion is useless and no different from any atheistic view. Similarly, suppose we carry out extensive moral acts and work tirelessly without being associated with and grounded in the source. In that case, our efforts will be in vain, and the fruit will be wild and deceitful.
The Tandem Growth
Being rooted in Christ and bearing fruit for Christ are thus two interconnected aspects of the Christian life that needs to progress simultaneously. Here are some things to consider and avoid to be rooted in Christ and bear fruits for Him:
Things to consider:
A personal relationship with Christ: The basis of our faith is our relationship with Christ. Through faith, we must establish a close relationship with Him. This relationship is not just about following rules or attending church services, but it involves a personal connection with Christ that transforms our lives and shapes our worldview. Our life decisions should be based on this.
Obedience of faith: We must allow the Holy Spirit to ingrain Christ's teachings and example in all facets of our lives. We can't achieve it by our self-efforts, but we die to our will so Christ's life can be imparted to us. Through the obedience of faith, we can experience transformation and become more like Christ. It requires surrendering our desires and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us.
Overflow of Love: Jesus said that we should love our neighbours as ourselves. Even those who might not share our beliefs must be treated with love and compassion. By showing love and kindness to others, we can overflow with God's love and be a light in the world. This is not only a commandment but also an opportunity to make a positive impact on those around us.
Sharing the Joy: In order for what has been experienced as indescribable joy to be transmitted to others, we must proclaim the good news of Christ's love and extend an invitation for them to meet Him.
Things to avoid:
Don't be dominated by sin: We must abstain from sin's dominion that undermines our relationship with Christ and affect how we represent Him to others. We should constantly check our actions and thoughts against the Holy Word to avoid developing sinful habits.
Don't be implanted in hypocrisy: To avoid alienating people from the gospel, we must be genuine in our faith and abstain from it. Being a good witness to others and displaying Christ's love requires that we live morally upright lives and put our beliefs into practice. We must always keep in mind that our actions speak louder than our words.
Don't grow in legalism: We need to avoid legalistic attitudes that focus on rules and regulations rather than a relationship with Christ. Adherence to rules are important, but they are a byproduct of genuine love. Instead, we should strive to live out our faith with humility and grace, recognizing that it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can truly follow Christ. It is important to remember that our actions and attitudes should reflect the love and mercy of God, rather than a rigid adherence to a set of man-made protocols.
The Bible teaches that bearing fruit for Christ is the natural result of being rooted in Him. In John 15:5, Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing." Paul also writes in Galatians 5:22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law."
Being rooted in Christ below and bearing fruits above is a natural spiritual experience that goes hand in hand. We need to develop a personal relationship with Christ, obey His teachings in faith, show labour of love to others, and share the gospel while not permitting sin to root. The Holy Scripture teaches that bearing fruit for Christ is the natural result of being rooted in Him, and it brings glory to God and blessings to others.
So let's continue the progress God intends for us, and take root below while bearing fruits above.
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