“Mighty sequoia trees tower hundreds of feet in the air and can withstand intense environmental pressures. Lightning can strike them, fierce winds can blow, and forest fires can rage around them. But the sequoia endures, standing firm, only growing stronger through the trials.” “One of the secrets to the strength of this giant tree is what goes on below the surface. Unlike many trees, they reach out and interlock their roots with the sequoia around them. Each becomes empowered and reinforced by the strength of the others.” (The Love Dare, page 171)
Sequoia trees have amazing features that might excite us as to the incredible possibilities we, as Christians, have if we just live true to what we can learn from them and what we say we believe.
My take: The secrets of the sequoia can be a picture to us of the reality of living the Gospel! True grace roots us with one another. Living in our “redemption roots” by telling our stories as the Holy Spirit leads us causes our roots to reach out and interlock with Christ and others. Our stories enable others to see the beauty of Christ and His great love and forgiveness.
If we stop covering up our sins and painting over the flaws of the “real wood”— the real you, me, Us—and start living by interlocking roots with Christ and one another we will be empowered and strengthened and the Gospel will go forth in power!
If we as believers collectively let these roots of Christ, His Word and our testimonies go deep in us and truly connect authentically, depending on Christ, united and led by Him, we would become the force of God’s Kingdom on earth that is empowered, unrivaled, reinforced by the strength of Christ in each of us. Then we would be living like the first disciples and by CHRIST IN US, (by His Spirit, not trying to finish by means of the flesh (Galatians 3:3) —we would be world changers!
Are we setting our hope completely on the grace to be brought to others at the revelation of Jesus Christ? 1 Peter 1:13-16 reflection.
If we are truly saved, unless believed in vain, we have truly received that Christ died for our sins and that He was buried and that he rose again on the third day! He did this for us and we can tell of the greatness of what He paid for, for us! He paid it all.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (2 favorite, anchoring verses)
“Authenticity is incredibly freeing, but more importantly, it can lead to evangelism-which is what we are called to do anyway! …let’s allow God to refinish us the way He intends and use us for His glory. Come on, let your true self shine-join the sisterhood!”
In Salvaging My Identity by Rachel Lovingood and Jennifer Mills p 52.
“Have the audacity to live this day as someone wholly forgiven and utterly clean. Never confuse faithless self-loathing with humility.” Beth Moore
A Friend commented the following on this blog and I think it’s helpful to add here:
Thanks for sharing it! I’m encouraged by the call to authenticity and community. A couple of things I celebrate—and one gentle clarification that keeps it centered on the gospel: Our Root is Christ Himself, not our stories. Testimonies are great, but the power is “Christ in you.” We’re already united with Him and with each other by the Spirit, and from that union our honesty and encouragement flow (Colossians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 6:17).
Total forgiveness and perfect cleansing are already ours. We don’t become acceptable by being authentic; we dare to be authentic because we’re already acceptable in Christ. By one offering we’ve been sanctified and perfected forever (Hebrews 10:10,14; Ephesians 1:7).
Growth is renewing the mind, not earning closeness. We’re not trying to “finish by the flesh.” We simply “offer our bodies” because we’re already one with Jesus and led by His Spirit (Galatians 3:3; Romans 12:1; Galatians 5:18).
I’m totally with you on mission and encouragement. I just want to keep the order clear: union with Christ produces authenticity and fruit—not the other way around (2 Corinthians 5:18–19; Colossians 2:13–14).
I love the image of interlocking roots—let’s make the root Jesus and let grace fuel everything.
Key Scriptures you can include:
- Hebrews 10:10,14 — Once-for-all sanctified and perfected.
- Ephesians 1:7 — Redemption and forgiveness in Him.
- Colossians 1:27 — Christ in you, the hope of glory.
- Galatians 5:18 — Led by the Spirit, not the Law.
- 2 Corinthians 5:18–19 — God has reconciled us; not counting our sins against us.
