C2:6-8

August 2, 2007

Something about this is speaking to me today. Last month, I attended a retreat where we dwelled in the “abiding” text of John 15. I think I posted about this already, but there was this revelation in our teaching that revealed a fruit centered way of following, rather than Jesus’ point, abiding in the source. It’s easy to want to produce fruit, to squeeze it from the farthest limb. It’s harder to remain close to the trunk, the source, and trust that the fruit will grow on it’s own.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul writes perhaps as reflection on this:

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.” (NLT)

There is great beauty in Paul’s horticulture. Root. Grow. Overflow.

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