“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Col. 2:6-7 ESV)

Rooted and grounded in love

“That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:16-19 ESV)

With no root they withered away

“Yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.” (Matt. 13:21 ESV)

“But when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.” (Matt. 13:6 ESV)

Jesus is the root

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” (Rev. 22:16 ESV)

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater.” (Isa. 55:10 NIV)

“He provides rain for the earth; he sends water on the countryside.” (Job 5:10 NIV)

He shows kindness by giving you rain

“Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” (Acts 14:17 NIV)

“I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.” (Levit. 26:4 NIV)

He provides rain for both the righteous and the unrighteousness

“…so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matt. 5:45 NASB)

“Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you.” (Gen. 1:29 NASB)

Seeds sprout and grow

“He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.” (Mark 4:26-27 NIV

Man doesn’t understand the seed, but uses them

Jesus tells us in the above verse that the seed sprouts and grows, even though the man who is scattering the seed doesn’t know how. That is the same today. We still don’t understand how a seed actually works. We just know that it does and we have only learned how to cooperate with it. We’ve learned how to prepare the soil for it, plant it, water it and fertilize it, but we can’t actually create a seed ourselves. All seeds have to come from plants and every seed is a miracle! Inside every seed is everything it needs to reproduce the original plant it came from. A radish seed produces radish’s, a tomato seed produces tomatoes. Every time. A single little acorn seed, when planted in the ground, will grow up into a great and mighty tree just like the original one it came from! You can count on it, even though you don know how.

Seedtime and harvest will not cease

"While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease." (Gen. 8:22 NASB)

The Word of God is described as imperishable seed

“…for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.” (2 Peter 1:23 NASB)

Therefore, sow bountifully and you will also reap bountifully!

“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2 Cor. 9:6 NASB)

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (Heb. 10:23 NASB)

Faithful is: loyal, steadfast, committed, devoted, dedicated, dependable, reliable, constant, and unwavering.

God is faithful to all generations!

“For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5 NASB)

“Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” (Deut. 7:9 NASB)

“God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Cor. 1:9 NASB)

All His Work is done in faithfulness

“For the word of the LORD is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness.” (Psalm 33:4 NASB)

Therefore, don’t turn aside from the right or to the left

“So you shall observe to do just as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left.” (Deut. 5:32-33 NASB)

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Cor. 4:2 NIV)

“I will extol You, my God, O King, And I will bless Your name forever and ever.” (Psalm 145:1 NASB)

Psalms 145 is a Psalm of praise written by David and lists many great reasons to give praise to God. 

1. God is a personal God (v1)

I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

2. God is the sovereign King (v2)

Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

3. God is great (v3)

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

4. God is unsearchable (v3)

And His greatness is unsearchable.

5. God is a doer of mighty acts (v4)

One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

6. God is majestic (v5)

I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.

7. God is good (v7)

They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness,

8. God is righteous (v7)

…and shall sing of thy righteousness.

9. God is gracious (v8)

The Lord is gracious...

10. God is full of compassion (v8)

…and full of compassion;

11. God is slow to anger (v8)

…slow to anger,

12. God is merciful (v8)

…and of great mercy.

13. God is good to everyone (v9)

The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

14. God is powerful (v11)

They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;

15. God makes Himself known to us (v12)

To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.

16. God helps us (v14)

The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down

17. God provides for us (v15)

The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.

18. God is generous to us (v16)

Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

19. God is near to us (v18)

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

20. God listens to us (v19)

He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry,

21. God saves us (v19)

…and will save them.

21. God preserves us (v20)

The Lord preserveth all them that love him:

23. God brings justice to us & the world (v20)

...but all the wicked will he destroy.

Read Psalms 145

Read the entire book of Psalms 145 below and praise God for all He is, for all He has done, and for all He is going to do.

Psalm 145 – a psalm of praise

1. I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

2. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

3. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

4. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

5. I will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.

6. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.

7. They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.

8. The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

9. The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

10. All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee.

11. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;

12. To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.

13. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

14. The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

15. The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.

16. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

19. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

20. The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.

21. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever. (Psalms 145 KJV)

 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Eph.1:3 NIV)

The Doxology (glory and praise to God)

When Susan and I were first married we were regularly invited for Sunday dinners at her parent’s home. Before eating the meal, her father would sing the doxology and the entire family joined in…

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.”

I really enjoyed his beginning Sunday meals like that! It was very uplifting. My father-in-law has been gone for many years now, but whenever I think of him, I remember the sound of his voice enthusiastically proclaiming praise to God.

Sing to the Lord all the earth!

“Sing to the Lord, all the earth; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and joy are in His place. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him; Worship the Lord in holy array. Tremble before Him, all the earth; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” (1 Chron. 16:23-31 NASB)

“The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:8 ESV)

Your steps are established by the Lord

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.” (Psalms 37:23 ESV)

Even in uttermost parts

“If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalms 139:9-10 ESV)

Wisdom and understanding will help you go on your way in safety

“My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.” (Prov. 3:21-23 NIV)

God’s Word will light your path

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105 ESV)

Angels guard you by His command

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11 ESV)

You may have good success whoever you go

“Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:7 ESV)

“A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.” (Prov. 16:28 ESV)

Gossiping is very serious!

When most people think of “serous sins”, gossiping is usually not too high on the list. But, gossiping is very serious and is condemned in both the old and New Testaments.

Gossips are listed in the Bible with those who commit murder!

“They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips…” (Rom. 1:29 ESV)

Saying what they should not

“Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.” (1 Tim. 5:13 ESV)

Slandering your neighbor

“You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.” Levit. 19:16 ESV)

“Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure.” (Psalm 101:5 ESV)

Spreading false reports

“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.” (Ex. 23:1 ESV)

Revealing secrets

“Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.” (Prov. 29:19 ESV)

Careless words spoken

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.” (Matt. 22:36 ESV)

“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.” (Psalm 34:13 ESV)

Don’t listen to gossip!

“An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.” (Prov. 17:4 ESV)

“But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.” (2 Tim. 2:16 ESV)

Love covers a matter

“Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” (Prov. 17:9 ESV)

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might  that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, (Eph. 1:16-20 ESV)

How you should pray

If you ever wonder how you should pray for those you’d like to become followers of Christ, the above passage has some guidelines for you to follow.

• Begin by thanking God for them in prayer  (verse 16)

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”

• Pray that God will give them revelation in the knowledge of Him (verse 17)

“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,”

• Pray that God will open the eyes of their heart so that they will become enlightened concerning the hope He has called them to (verse 18)

“having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,”

• End by thanking God for His immeasurable power towards us who believe (verses 19-20)

“and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places…”