“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.”

Colossians 2:6-7

This week Susan Veenema and Melanie Wilson take a look at the verses above and help us answer how we are built up in God.

How are we built up in Him?

Susan: We are always being fed by God, we just don’t always see it. Although I don’t do this perfectly, I try to keep Christ at the front of my mind throughout the day. Please know this does not always come naturally. Sometimes the situation is so dire, I immediately beg and plead and I feel the peace of God overwhelm me. I’ve also strategically put verses around where I work and throughout the house to see God’s Word. Reading the Bible reminds me of how intimately He loves me and cares for me. He has every detail in my life, big and small, already taken care of. I need to trust in His faithfulness.

Melanie: In Ephesians 3:17 we read “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” We are built up in Christ when we are full of him and have let him make his home in our heart. The more I put my trust in Him during moments full of joy and moments that hurt, my relationship with Jesus grows. I feel like I know Him and He knows me. Colossians 2:7 describes this as being “rooted and built up” in Him. For this to happen, we have to be intentional in caring for our relationship with Jesus. We water it and weed it, make sure the ground around it is fertile and able to grow. In our day-to-day lives this can look like being diligent about the inputs we allow into our lives, who we are spending our time with, what we’re listening to, reading and watching on TV. I wish I could tell you that I have mastered this, but too often I let the demands of life get in the way of this important time.

How is our faith strengthened or established in faith?

Susan: When we begin to spend time with God in prayer, reading the Bible, or in meditation, we begin to see Him more in everyday situations. I look back to when He delivered me from my depression and brought me into a healthy lifestyle and how my faith has grown. I think of my daughter in the NICU, and here she is thriving and full of life, and I am reminded of His goodness. And sometimes even when it does not go the way I expected, I still see God for who He said He is because He gives me the strength to continue and my faith is strengthened.

Melanie: I love the progression of Paul’s words in these verses. I read it as the work we put into being rooted in Jesus, builds us up in Jesus and then makes us strong in our faith. Strong faith comes from a life built on the foundation of the Gospel. This strong foundation is so important because life is coming for us! It’s coming at us fast, and we won’t be able to weather it well or withstand the storms without the one who holds it all together: Jesus. A firm foundation ensures that our circumstances do not dictate our faith, but that the faith God gives us drives how we show up in the midst of them.

How do we abound in thankfulness?

Susan: Often we go quickly to the bad in our life. We call our friends and talk about what happened. The media surrounds us with all that is wrong in the world. But by starting our day, offering God thanksgiving for all that is good, He can truly transform our hearts and we can abound in thankfulness. We get to live forever in Him, something we can always be joyful about. A beautiful flower bloomed again this year. What beauty. The voice of a trusted friend after a hard day. Thank you for the people you placed in my life. “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp is a great resource on how to live out our thankfulness. Once we start listing out all we have to be grateful for, it’s hard not to share.

Melanie: The New Living Translation replaces abounding with overflowing, and I like that wording better! I think it provides a lovely visual of thankfulness in action. A strong faith is witnessed in those who live their lives filled with gratitude and praise. It’s a posture, not an emotion or feeling. Paul is writing this letter from jail, so no one would have blamed him if he complained a little about his circumstance! Instead, his thankfulness for the gospel and his calling to proclaim it radiate throughout the entire letter to the Colossians.

Last month I had the opportunity to visit Niagara Falls for the first time. To get to the actual falls you have to go up a couple flights of stairs then cross a short bridge. As I started to approach the bridge the magnitude of what I was about to witness took hold, and I started to feel pulled toward whatever awaited me on the other side. Once you cross the bridge, an elevator trip down dumps you right into the action. The doors opened, and I was almost immediately struck with the power of the water. It was loud and breathtaking; this overflow of water crashing down mightily into a little quaint cove, created beauty and delight for everyone who had the chance to be in its presence. I imagine that’s how others experience us as we overflow with thankfulness for Jesus -- for His sacrifice. I love this quote from Meister Eckhart, “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is Thank You, it will be enough.” I think it captures the essence of a constant prayer we can easily put into practice.

So what about you?

Share below in the comments how these verses encourage and challenge you!

ABOUT OUR BLOGGERS

Susan Veenema and her husband, Jeremy, love exploring Chester County with their two older biological daughters and three foster children. Susan has been in education for almost 20 years supporting children with disabilities and their families.

She currently works at the Department of Education. One of her greatest joys is leading Thursday night women's Bible study and her couples community group. People are her passion.

She loves to read, write and study everything from history to social sciences to the early church. You'll always find her trusty German Shorthaired Pointer by her side.

An eternal optimist, Melanie Wilson is on board for anything that involves books, sunflowers, coffee, the WVU Mountaineers, Bible Study and laughter. After a 20-year career in the banking industry, she recently obtained a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and pinches herself every day that her passion is now her profession.

Melanie and her husband, Jim, love their front row seats cheering on their “one and only” daughter, spending time with family and friends and binge-watching football on crisp fall weekends.