When Deep Calls Unto Deep, Part II – Deep Roots
From The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, Volume 37

The Lord’s parable of the sower teaches how people receive God’s word. Some seeds fall on the path, some on rocky ground, some among thorns, and some on good soil. These represent different ways people respond. The rocky ground has only a thin layer of soil, with rocks underneath. Seeds that fall there grow quickly at first, but when the sun comes out, they wither because they have no roots.

What is a root? It is growth that occurs beneath the soil. What are leaves? It is growth that occurs above the soil. Roots represent the hidden life, while leaves represent the manifest life. For many Christians, while there is much apparent life, there is very little hidden life: roots. How much of your life is hidden from view? How much is unknown to others? Does your outward life outweigh the hidden life? Good works are important; but apart from that manifest expression of your life, how much of your life remains hidden? If all your spiritual life is exposed, you do not have any root. Are all your virtues before God manifested before man, or is there something more that is unknown to man? If all your experiences are manifested, then all your growth is upward; there is no downward growth. If this is the case, you are a person who has only leaves without root, and you are on shallow ground.

As Christians, we need to understand what it means to be part of the Body of Christ and to live in fellowship with others. At the same time, God gives each of us a unique portion. We must protect what God has given us personally, or it may lose its value and purpose. If we expose everything that is meant to be private, it can fade away.

The discourse of the Lord Jesus on the Mount was remarkable. He speaks of both hidden and manifest life, “You are the light of the world. It is impossible for a city situated upon a mountain to be hidden” (Matt. 5:14). It is manifest and open. But He also said, “When you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; when you pray, enter into your private room, and shut your door and pray to your Father who is in secret” (Matt. 6:3-4, 6). Christians must come out into the open and make a public profession; but there are also virtues which should be preserved from the public gaze. The Christian who parades all his virtues before men and who has nothing in the depth of his being has no root; he will not be able to stand in the day of trial and temptation.

Many of us have followed the Lord for years. May God help us see how much of our spiritual life is hidden from others. If everything others know about us was taken away, what would remain? May God help us grow deeper roots in Him.