In a weekly church column usually published in the Medway Messenger, Pam Tolhurst, Local Church Leader at Gillingham United Reformed Church, considers how important roots are to us all.

Where are your roots? You could be excused for thinking that either I was being inquisitive in wanting to hear about your family history or that I was asking something which doesn’t make sense.

During these recent strange months I have found that roots come a lot into my thinking.

When you hear the word ‘roots’ what do you immediately think of? It could be tree, carrot, onion or hyacinth roots. It may be none of those. Roots are fascinating if you spend even a few moments just looking at them. Try it.

A reference to roots occurs many times in the Bible and I find that very helpful. I hope you might too as you imagine a root alongside the following Scriptures.

In all Scriptures in this article I have deliberately quoted the King James version because of the depth inspired by some of the words.

Isaiah 11:1 says, ‘And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.’ Why is that sometimes read at Christmas carol services? Because it is about the fulfilment of the promise of God that Jesus would direct us to the greatest purpose in life – knowing Him to be our Saviour.

Colossians 2:6-7 says, ‘As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.’

Rooted in Christ, receiving Christ as our Saviour is the beginning. As we journey it is the building up of our roots in Him which strengthen us in faith. So, as onions and carrots get fed from soil through their roots, we can draw our strength for life from Jesus Christ.

Life is full of problems, sadnesses and thankfully often times of happiness too. In them all, what a difference it makes when our roots, our lives, our embedded in Jesus Christ. Without that strength we will be all over the place, wondering what life is about.

Christians believe as in John 3:16 that ‘God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ It is because of Christ’s death and resurrection that we can thank God that we know where the roots of our lives lie when we follow Jesus.

If you would like to find out more about Churches Together In Medway or what it means to become a Christian, please contact the chairman, Pastor Stephen Bello on 01634 920491 or rccgvictoriousfamily@hotmail.com

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