Live In Christ

 

Scripture: Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV)

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Devotion:

In this passage, Paul is reminding the church that the way they began is the way they must continue. They received Christ by faith, by surrender, by trusting His grace rather than their own strength. Now they are to walk in that same posture, not moving on from Christ as if He were only the starting point, but sinking their lives deeper and deeper into Him.

Paul uses the image of a tree rooted in rich soil. Roots are hidden, quiet, unseen, yet they determine everything about the life of the tree. In the same way, the most important parts of our discipleship are often the parts no one sees: our prayers, our repentance, our trust, our daily turning toward Christ. To be rooted in Him means drawing our nourishment from His presence, His Word, His promises. It means letting His life become the source of our life. When the storms come, it is the depth of the roots that keeps the tree standing. When the pressures of life press in on us, it is our rootedness in Christ that keeps us from being swept away.

Paul then shifts to the image of a building being constructed. Christ is not only the soil beneath us but the foundation beneath our feet. To be built up in Him means that every part of our life—our decisions, our relationships, our habits, our hopes—is being shaped by His lordship. The Christian life is not static; it is a continual construction project in which Christ Himself is the architect and builder. He strengthens us, establishes us, and forms us into people who reflect His character.

And then Paul adds a final phrase that reveals the tone of a mature Christian life: “abounding in thanksgiving.” Gratitude is not an accessory to faith; it is the overflow of a heart that knows it has received everything from Christ. When we remember how we first received Him—empty‑handed, needy, welcomed by grace—our hearts naturally rise in thanksgiving. Gratitude becomes the atmosphere in which we walk, the posture that keeps us humble, joyful, and aware of God’s constant goodness.

Let this passage invite you to return to the simplicity of how you first came to Christ. Walk in Him the same way you received Him. Let your roots sink deeper into His love. Let your life be built on His strength. And let thanksgiving rise in you as the natural fruit of a heart anchored in the One who holds you fast.

Prayer:

Help us, Jesus, to live as your disciples in this crazy world. Teach us to hold fast to you and always rely on you for help and assistance. May we always cling to your words in scripture as our rule for living and infallible guide to salvation in the resurrection. Thank you for all you have done for us. May we pay you back in some small degree by proclaiming your gospel wherever we go. Amen.