Devotional

Roots
by Rhonda Randall
 
Romans 11:16b—… if the root is holy, the branches are, too.  Hebrews 12:15—See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God: that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.

     I love how the Scriptures make analogies from nature that help us understand. In the natural world, we enjoy the beauty of plants (the tulips in my flower garden this year are truly outstanding). Right now I’m looking at our trees that are beginning to leaf out. Our trees have grown from little saplings at planting to trees that are beginning to offer shade in the blistering summer sun. But what we see is not the whole story, and in fact what we don’t see is what keeps the tree alive.

     Looking at a tree we see a crown (the most obvious green part) and the branches and trunk. Within the crown are all the individual leaves that are distinguishable when we are closer to the tree. Both of these sections are important to the life of the tree—the leaves make food for the tree, and the branches and trunk have tissues that perform differing functions—protection from injury and the transfer of nutrients from the leaves and soil. But there is also the root system, the part that is not visible unless we dig in the dirt, and this system has the most important function. 
 

     The tree roots are underground branches. They anchor the tree in the ground and draw nutrients and water from the soil. The root system is at least as large as the crown, and the smaller roots, the little rootlets that sprout from the ends of the larger roots, are at the edge of the crown where they can collect rainwater. Many trees have very large center taproots, which are the greatest stabilizer for the tree, and which can be 15 feet or more deep if the tree is large. Trees will be able to withstand bitter storms if the taproot is in place, but if the taproot is broken or cut, it usually will never grow again and the large tree will be in danger of toppling in storms. 

     The two verses above speak to us about our lives. We must do some things: See to it that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, defiling many around us. I’m sure you know at least one bitter person who feeds on everything negative and keeps that bitterness growing and thriving. There are many reasons for bitterness. But we have no excuse, according to Hebrews 12:15. We are to make certain that we tap into (instead of come short of) the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up. Some roots just simply re-sprout new growth. Dandelions do this; even if just one teensy little part of the root remains, a new plant grows from it. We must guard our hearts and minds and not feed the root of hurt from the past. The verse doesn’t say to pull out the root of bitterness. Perhaps there are just some events in our past that can’t be pulled out and forgotten, especially those things that have severely bruised and broken parts of us. But, we are to see to it that no root of bitterness re-sprouts. We are to access the grace God will give us to not allow bitterness to master us.

     Additionally, we need to develop a deep inner “root system” in our lives. If the root, meaning the inside part of us that thinks, responds, stabilizes our emotions, and sets our lives, is holy, then the branches are too—our actions, and our attitudes toward others and our work. The bitter storms of life will be weathered with grace if we tap(root) into the richness of God’s truth. The system that very few see or know about is the very part of our lives that nourishes and keeps us. Our own inner root system must draw in and soak up the Scriptures in order to keep us mentally, emotionally and spiritually healthy. We must know what God’s thoughts are about our thoughts and behaviors, about raising our children, about responding to difficult people, about the work we do, about…life. For, if the root is holy, the branches are, too.

     Oh, what comfort and encouragement we have in the Word of God!