ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE

01/31/2023

"...[Pray]...that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—[the love of Christ] (Ephesians 3:16-18)

The life that we have received is a life that is only operative by love. Love is how we think, act and speak. The moment Christians live outside the love of God in Chris Jesus,  they live a dysfunctional life. Notice how God expects us to comprehend things. He expects us to grasp things based on our roots and grounding in the love of God.

For the believer, love is the atmosphere by which we live and thrive. The way a fish needs water to be functional is precisely the way saints need love to function. So what is love? Romans 13:10 says, "Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." In other words, love is a verb that contains no harm in thoughts, words and actions to a neighbour. 

Psalm 133:1-2 describes love among brethren this way. It says, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments." The picture that God paints for us s that we are one body and not one organization. 

A body is connected by joints and tissues but an organization is composed of departments. There can be no severing or malfunction of a member of a body without the experience of pain. Why? Because a body is a living organism. However, organizations can restructure or phase out departments without experiencing pain because organizations are non-living. 

This is the mind shift that the Lord seeks to produce among us. We are a body and this body only functions and grows by love. To approach the church as an organization to which you come a few times a week is not only devilish but minimal to growth. 

The church is a "whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:16).

As you go about your day today, understand that your function is hinged on love and maybe God has put you in the body to intercede especially for 5+ME, or for a particular family or a city. Maybe He has called you to write Year of Wonder songs for the whole church or to minister to incarcerated individuals on behalf of the church, the only way you would be able to comprehend these deeper callings of the Spirit is by being rooted and grounded in love. 

Love is the framework for your operation. And the love of God is in your heart (according to Roams 5:5)

Have a great day.

Faith-Filled Confession

I live a life, grounded and rooted in the love of God. I do no harm to my neighbour, only good. And from the love of God in my heart, I discern and live out God's more intimate callings on my life such that the kingdom makes serious advancement because of my contributions. Hallelujah!

ONE YEAR READING PLAN:  Exodus 25-26; Matthew 21:1-22