Deep Roots

Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

READ: MATTHEW 7:24-27; EPHESIANS 3:16-19; COLOSSIANS 2:6-10

Colossians 2:6-7 says, “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught.”

If we know Jesus as our Savior and build our lives on Him and what He tells us in the Bible, our spiritual roots will go deep. As we dig into the richness of the gospel alongside fellow Christians, studying His Word and pondering how He saved us through His own death and resurrection, we won’t be easily fooled by false teaching or be quick to wander away from God. We’ll be firmly rooted in Jesus.

There will be plenty of storms in life that threaten to shake us, but when we belong to Jesus, we can be confident that He holds us securely in His love (Romans 8:35-39). And knowing that truth changes how we live. We can be totally honest with Him about both the joys and the sorrows we experience, coming to Him with our questions, doubts, frustrations, and fears. He can handle all of it. He is eager to reveal who He truly is and how much He cares for us. As we look to Jesus for help, relying on Him to give us strength and guidance in every area of life, we’ll continue to grow in our relationship with Him, firmly rooted in His truth and love. • A. W. Smith

• One powerful way for us to be more firmly rooted in Christ is through prayer, simply talking with God. Consider taking some time to ask God to help you grow more rooted in Him and trust Him to hold you securely no matter what. If you’d like a guide, you could pray the words of Ephesians 3:16-19 for yourself, and you could also pray them for a friend.

• Throughout our lives, we all have times when our faith feels weak. But Jesus is so eager to help us through His Spirit, His Word, and His people. Who is a mature Christian in your life? Consider asking them how their faith has grown throughout the years and how Jesus has helped them.

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7 (NLT)