Spiritual Roots

Romans 11:18
Do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember you do not support the root but the root supports you.

After I read this verse, I began to think about the roots of trees in comparison to our spiritual roots. If you have ever seen the roots of a tree, you know there are many roots to one tree. Most trees have one main root, from which all secondary roots emerge. The roots of a tree serve to anchor the tree to the ground and keep it upright. The roots gather water and nutrients that the tree needs to live and transfers it to all parts of the tree. Did you know that the roots of a tree extend horizontally beyond the branch tips? This means the tree branches can never outgrow the roots.

I then began to think about our spiritual roots. I believe Jesus Christ is our main root, from which all spiritual life begins. I believe your main root begins to grow on the day you are saved. I believe up until the day you are saved, it is just a seed in you being tossed around until you let it take root by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Did you know the root of a tree can start in any conditions as long as there is access to water? The roots of a tree will grow around and through any obstacle to anchor that tree. I believe the same is true with our spiritual roots, God can start to grow in you no matter how bad you have been or the sins you have committed with access to Jesus Christ. You may have obstacles in your life but God will grow right through those things in you. He will break through the sin in your life to anchor you in him and keep you standing tall.

I believe as we continue to grow in our faith and in our love for Jesus, the secondary roots begin to extend and grow from the main root. The secondary roots help ground us while the main root continues to feed us spiritually. I believe the main root feeds us with the word of God and when we spend time in prayer. However, for a tree to grow it has to be opened to receiving the water and nutrients that the main root provides just as we spiritually have to be open to the water and nutrients God provides. As our roots become stronger and more stable, the branches began to grow and leaves are produced. If this growth continues you will began to see spiritual fruit.

Our spiritual tree can never outgrow the roots, I believe that God is reminding us of this in Romans 11:18 when he says to remember you do not support the root but the root supports you. I believe he is telling us not to get to big for our britches, you have to be from the South to understand that one, or not to think more highly of ourselves than we should; but always remember from whom and where we come. Our roots extend far beyond our branches, so you will never outgrow your roots. Just as the roots of a tree are not all visible to the naked eye, we know they exist and they are keeping that tree alive. The same is true with our spiritual tree. We may not see God in the physical but we know he is there and he is working in our favor to keep us standing tall and grounded in our faith. We know our spiritual roots extend far beyond our branches to keep us safe and standing tall when we face the storms in our life. The branches of a tree may sway back and forth during the storm but if the roots are strong it will still be standing when the storm is over.

God loves each and every one of us. He wants us to grow spiritually in him so that our spiritual tree can be strong and full of fruit, but the choice is ours. Are we willing to accept the water and nutrients the main root is sending us today in order to become that strong and stable Christian that he wants us to be?

Thank you all for reading this and please feel free to share.

I hope you all have a great day in Jesus Christ!