Colossians 2:6—"As you, therefore, have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving."
How we live our lives is impacted by our belief system. My belief system is my personal worldview—the eyeglasses through which I see life though—to perceive what is true about this world, myself, my life, relationships with others, and God. Our faith is consistent with what we believe is true and our behavior is consistent with what we believe.
The Apostle Paul encourages us to walk in Christ, rooted and built up in Him. What does it mean to be rooted in Christ? The Greek word for "rooted" means to cause to take root, in being firmly planted, or established. As our hearts grow in understanding who we are in Christ, we become established in the faith and it will impact how we live our lives in Christ.
Every believer needs to know who the true God is, put their faith in Him, and know who they are in Christ. This understanding helps, so that God can live through us as He desires, and we won't be deceived through ignorance or defective teaching—resulting in a powerless, defeated Christian life.
Our walking in Christ comes from being in Christ. The pattern Paul uses in his letters to the churches demonstrates this. In the first half of his letters, he focuses on the work of Christ, faith in Christ, and experiencing the life-changing impact of the Gospel of grace. The second half is practical application, focusing on living out the Christian faith (Ex: Romans, Colossians, Ephesians).
How Does Faith Impact Our Walking in Christ?
• Beliefs- What do I believe? Who do you put your faith in? What is the basis for your faith?
• Values- How important is this to you? Do you value the things God values? How do you come to value something?
• Thoughts and Perceptions- What thoughts do you have? How do you know the truth? How do you discern between good and evil?
• Feelings- How do you feel? What realities impact your heart? Do your emotions line up with the truth or a lie? Do you put your faith in what you feel?
• Actions and Reactions- How do you respond? Do you demonstrate faith and love in your actions?
• Habits- What are your habits? What are the daily routines in your life? Are there disciplines in your life that help your intimacy with God?
• Lifestyle- What are you building your life around? Is your life built around God's Word? Eternal purposes? Faith in God?
Thank you for your prayers and continued support in helping hurting people. I pray that the Lord will use these emails to encourage and help you in your walk with Jesus!
Blessings,
Jeff