Growing Roots

I have heard the parable of the seed sower many times.  It basically talks about people spreading the gospel of Jesus and how some people receive the witness and others let it die through different life circumstances.  Recently I have been asking the Lord about that seed that falls on good ground.  Biologically seeds are suppose to break open to grow a plant with roots a stem, leaves, flowers, maybe even fruit.  The bible talks about his people bearing fruit so somehow we are suppose to go through these processes.  We are suppose to grow roots, leaves, flowers, and fruit.  Because God understands me so well he knows that sometimes I need a picture instead of words.  The motion picture that he gave me was of a tree growing. My study is ongoing but the first thing that I wanted to study was the roots of a tree. 

The roots of a tree gather water, oxygen, and nutrients for the surrounding soil.  The roots are the life force of a tree.  If roots don't have the proper nourishing environment they become diseased and eventually the whole tree is uprooted. How does that apply to us?  Environment matters. We should be careful of what kind of environment we make for ourselves when we do have a choice.  What are we willingly feeding ourselves with?   Are we poisoning ourselves with our surroundings, our entertainment choices, our close friendships, our jobs?  Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye many prove what is that good, and acceptable , and perfect, will of God."

Roots also work as the stabilizing force for a tree. They stretch out far beyond the tree underground. Roots help a tree to stand up straight and support the integrity of the tree stance.   Our roots are the things on which we base our life stance; our habits, beliefs, hopes, experiences on which we think and act.What is it in our lives that keeps us steady?  Those things act as roots in our lives.  Is it family, God, work. other accomplishments?  What is it stretches beyond us that makes us stand the way that we do?  Those are things are our roots. If we are rooted in the right things than we will stand strong and grow well. Romans 11:16 "For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches" 


Thanks to Colorado State University Extension website for providing such helpful information about how roots grow.      http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/02926.html