Roots

The roots of a plant are really important. Their primary function is to anchor the plant, to absorb water and nutrients, to pass these to the stem, and also to store these later, in case of need. There are many different root types and growth patterns, depending on the plant species, but they all have the same primary functions.

In our garden we had a very large Clematis plant which was always covered in beautiful pink blooms every spring. Last year, to our great sadness, there were no leaves, and it looked quite dead. I cut back all the stems and left the trunk. Surprisingly there was new growth from the trunk, and we had a few new stems, which gave us flowers. We thought that we would have the same this year, but there was no growth at all. Obviously, the roots were dead, and the growth had come from what was residual in the trunk.

I was comparing this with a small houseplant that I have, which has also grown vigorously over the years. At the beginning of the year, all the leaves died except one small leaf.  I put the plant on a different windowsill and left it there. To my great delight there are now at least ten leaves, which have grown from the root up out of the soil. Although the plant looked dead, the roots of this plant were obviously very much alive.

At our church we have been in a season of teaching entitled, “bearing fruit”. We have looked at various passages, including Psalm 1 and Jeremiah 17:7-8, and pondered where we are rooted. As I have been thinking about this, I compared the two plants. One had growth, but not from its roots. The other had strong roots, out of which growth came.

What are our roots like? Are we firmly planted in our relationship with Jesus? Are we abiding in Christ, or are we choosing our own way? Maybe we have been living from the place of our last encounter with God and not looking for His presence with us every day. He is the living water that sustains us, if we are rooted in Him. It is definitely a journey to get to this place, but one which is well worth seeking for. I don’t know about you, but I long to be like that tree described in the passage above.