“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.” – Ephesians 3:17-19
What is your source of life and love?
This year, my daughter got to learn about the biology of plants in science class. She learned about stems, leaves and chloroplasts as well as roots.
What does it mean to be rooted?
Roots are a plant’s source of nutrients and water. They also provide stability and fix the plant firmly to its spot. Many plants have at least as large and complex a root structure underground as they have branches and leaves above ground.
I love the use of the word, “rooted,” because it conveys that sense of being deeply connected to Christ. He is our source of life and strength. He is our sure foundation that keeps us firmly established in Him. It’s because of Him that we are full of Christ’s love and grow and bloom in the ways we see (“above ground”).
The Breadth, Length, Height, and Depth…
Through faith, we are rooted in Christ’s love and that love is immense. In Matthew we can read the parable of the sower and we read the following:
“Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.” – Matthew 13:5-6
In our passage from Ephesians, Paul is praying for the opposite. Being firmly rooted in Christ we would discover not a shallow soil, but one which is amazingly wide, long, tall, and deep. Our roots can’t out-grow God’s love.
As we grow, we continue to find soil rich in love which flows through us to our branches and out into the world, to our brothers and sisters in Christ and our neighbors.
My prayer for you is the same as Paul’s for the Ephesians. Being rooted and grounded in love, may you 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.
Amen!!
Dear Jesus,
Root me deeply in Your love. Fill me with Your love that I may know how immense it is. Then, let Your love flow through me to those around me.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
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