Orchids are unique tropical rainforest plants, growing in wild profusion on and under the protection of trees. They can adapt and grow, but very slowly, as proud house plants, given the correct environment, treatment, and care.

I know, because I have killed a few through my own ‘wisdom’ and mismanagement. When my umpteenth orchid looked like it was also on the way out, I decided to seek expert help from YouTube. After doing the right thing, to my amazement and joy, my only dying plant began to show signs of life again. Two new roots emerged from the rootless stem, new leaves grew and my orchid bloomed again.

Unfortunately, in the meantime, another birthday gift died which, in my ignorance I discarded, not knowing the resurrection power of this marvellous beauty.

My success at rejuvenating my last hope awakened in me a love for orchids and a desire to be an orchid ICU. From this experience, and the wisdom of experts, I now have five orchids, growing in water, their native environment, four with new flower spikes and one showing signs of new plant growth under its topmost leaf.

Cultivating orchids has taught me much about the Christian life. I have a friend who gave up on her orchids because they “grow too slowly”, she said. She likes plants that grow, bloom, and die in one season.

Like believers in Jesus, orchids must first develop a strong and vigorous root system. Their growing medium profoundly influences their production of roots. If they are planted in a medium too dense to aerate the roots, they will die. Too much water rots the roots, too little causes them to dehydrate and shrivel up, inhibiting them from taking in the moisture and nutrients that will sustain them and promote healthy leaf growth.

Believers also need a strong, healthy root system. We cannot expect baby believers to produce the fruit of maturity without roots. Rootless believers soon die. The toxic world around them neutralises their faith in God when trials and tests come. They need to be taught, fed, and nurtured to become established in their faith.

How and where do we grow our roots?

Like the orchid, we need spiritual air, moisture, and nutrients. We get these from the growing medium in which we are planted, God’s Word. This is not about our physical environment or circumstances, but rather about the air and environment in which our spirits can grow and flourish.

New ‘babies’ in Christ need to learn to live in the ‘atmosphere’ of the Holy Spirit. They need to know that He is in them, like a mother, providing everything they need for healthy growth. He is their ‘Paracletos’… their Helper, Guide, Teacher, and Counsellor.

They need to learn how to ‘walk’ by the Spirit…

‭Galatians 5:16a NLT‬
[16] “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives…”

… and be led by the Spirit…

‭Romans 8:14 NLT‬
[14] “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”

…to avoid and overcome the spiritual diseases that threaten their lives.

Galarians 5:16b NLT
“…Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”

Learning to live in the atmosphere of the Holy Spirit in the growth medium of the Word is a long, slow, ongoing, lifetime experience. Like the orchid, we need, constantly, to live in this ‘air of heaven’ to promote healthy growth.

Root growth needs a growing medium that is loose enough to aerate, yet strong enough to support the plant and of material that will hold moisture and nutrients without rotting the roots. Either pine bark or moss are the materials of choice. Growing them in water is a whole new ballgame.

Believers also need to grow their roots in the appropriate medium. What are our roots and where do they grow?

Matthew 4:4 NLT
[4] “But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

We derive the nutrients that feed our spirits from the Word of God.

‭Colossians 2:6-7 NLT‬
[6] “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. [7] 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.”

Very simply, our roots are faith, and our growing medium is God’s love revealed in Jesus, and the process is growing trust so strong that nothing can shift the believer from confidence in God’s love.

‭John 15:9-10 NLT‬
[9] “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. [10] When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.”

‭John 15:5 NLT‬
[5] “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

‭Ephesians 3:16-17 NLT‬
[16″I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. [17] Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”

He is our ‘bread from heaven’ and our ‘fountain of living water’. We will keep growing as we ‘eat and drink’ from His life on earth and His life in us as we feed on His Word.

‭John 6:33, 35 NLT‬
[33] “The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”..
[35] Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

‭John 7:37-38 NLT‬
[37]” On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! [38] Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”

‭John 4:13-14 NLT‬
[13] “Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. [14] But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

With a strong, healthy root system, the orchid begins to grow the leaves that gather sunlight to mature the plant. The fully-developed orchid will eventually produce beautiful blooms that reveal its nature, a fragment of creation that brings glory to its Creator.

And so with every believer who faithfully follows the procedure that will glorify the Lord by producing the blooms and fruit which reveal the nature of who we are. Strong, healthy roots are the key to the cultivation of a mature, fruitful life in Christ Jesus.