Letters From Grandpa #380

LETTERS FROM GRANDPA

• 380

Dearest grandchild

Today’s letter will deal with “roots”. Alex Haley wrote a best selling book about “Roots” in 1976. Your roots are also important! Someone wisely said: “no roots, no fruit”. This is true! If your life is to be productive you must have roots. In the parable of the sower Jesus explained why the seed on rocky soil died: “since he has no root, he lasts only a short time.” (Matt 13:21)

The importance of roots is indisputable. The seed that does not produce roots, cannot produce fruit. But not all roots are good. Good roots produce good fruit, and bad roots produce bad fruit. Be careful, therefore, where you put down roots for the love of money is the “root” of all kinds of evil (1 Tim. 6:10). And don’t be defiled by a “root” of bitterness (Heb. 12:15). God needs to take an ax to that kind of root (Matt. 3:10). A “withered root” produces no fruit at all (Hos. 9:16). Isaiah was hopeful regarding fruitless Israel and predicted: “Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above.” (Isa 37:31) We must be careful about our roots, for every plant not planted by God will be pulled up by the roots (Matt. 15:13).

It is interesting that Jesus is the Root and the Offspring of David (Rev. 22:16). And that Jesus grew up like a tender shoot and like a Root out of dry ground (Isa 53:2). Isaiah predicted that the “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him." (Rom 15:12). There is no root system better than Jesus!

The Hebrews depended upon the food they grew to survive and were familiar with fertilizer (Lk. 13:8). Fertilizer is important because what happens to the roots below the ground is essential to produce fruit above the ground. Remember! God has a purpose in dumping on us things that seem unpleasant. Pruning is also important. Grapes, for example, require heavy pruning in order to produce. The Hebrews knew this and by law were commanded to prune their vineyards for 6 years but not on the 7th (Lev. 25;3, 4). God, of course, also prunes us so that we can bear fruit.

Perhaps you have seen a huge elephant tethered with a wooden peg and a small rope. The “training” to make this possible begins with a strong chain and an iron post when the elephant is young. After repeatedly failing to break the chain the elephant is “trained” to quit trying. Something quite similar happens to trees that are planted in small pots. The only way their roots can grow is in a circle. When these potted tree are transplanted, the roots like the elephant, continue to behave the way they were trained. This circular growth is called “stem girdling roots” or “SGR”. The tree may appear to be healthy, but are not. “Stem girdling roots” prevent the tree from growing. SGR trees do not have a root system that can stand the storm. The problem can be solved by aggressive pruning. When the potted tree is removed from it’s small container, the circling roots must be cut off. The shorter roots, not programed to grow in circles, can thus can grow out as they should. There is a spiritual application to this too. Some roots we have must also be severed.

Remember the story of Joseph in the Bible. God had a plan for his life, and gave him dreams about becoming a leader. Before Joseph’s dreams came true, however, God helped him develop a strong root system. This happened first in the household of Potiphar. Joseph was so successful that he was put in charge of everything Potiphar owned (Gen. 39:1-6). Then when he was unjustly put in prison God gave him such management skills that the warden placed him in charge of the whole prison (Gen. 39:20-23). In each instance we are reminded that “The Lord was with Joseph” (Gen. 39:3-5; 21). The Pharaoh obviously considered Joseph’s resume before promoting him to be the governor of Egypt (Gen. 41:41-45. The fact that Joseph’s life was orchestrated by God did not relieve him of the

responsibility of blooming where he was planted. The same is also true of you and me! When our root system is in God there is no limit to what He can do through us!

This brings us to the subject of grafting. The Hebrews were also familiar with grafting (Rom. 11:17-24). This, as you know, is significant in many ways, but especially as it relates to conversion. When we are grafted into Jesus we partake of His identity, His strength, and His power. Conversion means that we die and our life is hidden with Christ in God. This means that now Christ is our life (Col. 3:4). This also means that we no longer live but Christ lives in us (Gal. 2:20). This is why a relationship with Jesus is so important. Jesus is the Root and we are the branches. The branches do not support the Root, but the Root supports the branches (Rom. 11:18). When the branch abides in the vine it produces fruit, and when it doesn’t bear fruit it is cut off (Jn. 15:2). Nothing is therefore more important than abiding in Jesus!

While everyone is different, the Scriptures still have a common theme for everyone. “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17). Even slaves are admonished to obey their masters as if they were obeying Christ. “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear;, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for what ever good he does, whether he is a slave or free” (Eph. 6:5-8)

When Jesus is your root system you can accomplish more than you can ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20). “For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. 1:8 KJV).

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce