THEME: Rooted in Christ
CATECHISM MEMORY: The First Commandment
MEMORY VERSE: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7 ESV
DEVOTION:
Imagine a great, majestic tree with wide, sprawling branches and lush leaves. Did you know that the Bible uses this very image to describe you, dear child of God? In Psalm 1, we read that the one who delights in God and His Word is, like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:3 ESV)
The tree described by the psalmist is an image of strength, stability and fruitfulness. And this is the vision God sets before you as an ideal. It is what your life before God is meant to be. But note that the life of the tree is not in the tree itself. It comes from outside of the tree, through the roots that soak in water and nutrients. So also, the life of the Christian is provided not by the Christian himself, but by Christ. We are rooted in Him, built up in Him. We are planted by streams of living water. He is the vine and we are the branches (John 15 ESV).
Without Christ’s ongoing, sustaining love, we wither and die, like an uprooted tree or a branch cut away from the vine. But as we remain connected to Jesus, rooted in Him, we live and thrive. Luther writes this in the Small Catechism, saying: “In this Christian church [God] daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers,” and “for all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.” (Luther’s Small Catechism, the Apostles’ Creed)
Notice the two parts of this image. First God delivers stability and strength to the believer when He forgives our sins for the sake of Christ. And then the believer produces fruit as a thriving, mature tree, ROOTED in CHRIST, as “we thank and praise, serve and obey Him.”
-Pastor Shaun
Readings:
Mon: Psalm 1 Tue: Colossians 1 Wed: Colossians 2 Thu: Colossians 3 Fri: Colossians 4 Sat: John 15
Sunday, August 16: (Isaiah 56:1, 6–8 | Romans 11 | Matthew 15:21–28)
Questions for the Readings
- What does each reading teach you about God’s power and love?
- What does each reading teach you about your life and calling as a child of God?
- What does it mean to be ROOTED in Christ?
- What does it mean to bear fruit as a Christian?
- Sketch or paint a tree or another image that reflects the imagery of Psalm 1, Colossians 2, and John 15. (Share your image with Pastor Shaun)
- What questions do you have about the readings this week? (Write them down and share them with Pastor Shaun!)