"What a man is must be shown to be more important than what he does."
In the Church today, there is a great emphasis on results, influence, impact, words, and actions. However, these outward manifestations of righteousness are meant to be the product of a heart deeply rooted in the love of Jesus Christ.
In this prescient and wisdom-rich book, The Root of the Righteous, A.W. Tozer urges believers to fix their gaze-not on visible fruit-but on Jesus Himself, to focus their efforts on planting deep roots in Him. With a true devotion to knowing Christ Jesus, to following Him, to walking in His ways, the highly-valued fruit is simply and inevitably a product of communion with His all-powerful, ever-loving presence.
A.W. Tozer (1897-1963) was an influential voice in evangelical American Christianity. As a pastor and an author, he challenged the hearts and minds of believers with his fierce intellect and heartfelt invitations, always with one goal in mind: that people would come to know God deeply, intimately, and truly. In The Root of the Righteous, Tozer's ferocity and passion shine through, as he calls readers into deeper union with Jesus and ultimately into the true life of the Church.
In this compilation of short meditations, Tozer reveals that in order to plant immovable roots in Jesus, the Christian must:
- Listen to God
- Receive His counsel
- Enjoy His presence
- Know Scripture
- Be inspired by the Spirit
- Commit whole-heartedly
- Refuse complacency
Tozer says, "The message 'Christ in you, the hope of glory' (Colossians 1:27) needs to be restored to the Church." This is the central decree of The Root of the Righteous: that the abiding presence of Jesus, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, in the hearts of believers is indeed the hope of the world. Through true intimacy with Christ, real, lasting fruit flourishes-righteousness flourishes-the very fruit that the world longs for.
