Rooted in Jesus
July 14, 2021
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 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. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:16-19 NLT
July leads into my favorite time to walk around our house. The baby plants and seedlings planted weeks ago are now deeply rooted and beginning to flourish. They are spreading, taking up the space around them. Their blooms are bright and beautiful. We have had a big storm as well as days in a row of scorching heat. But they aren’t dying. Their roots are deep, and we are beginning to see the hints of what the glorious result will be as everything continues to grow. Their deep roots have provided stability in spite of storms and drought. They are strong! They are making everything beautiful!
That’s the picture of lives that are rooted in Jesus. They have recognized that Jesus is the source of all wisdom and strength. They have received Him fully into their lives. They have accepted His invitation to follow Him, and they are actively living life in partnership with Him. Christ has made His 24/7 home in their hearts. Now they are being deeply rooted. They are being strengthened and empowered with inner strength through the Spirit of God. Talk about flourishing! The roots are growing down deep into God’s love!
What’s the result of that? Well, the flowers around my house aren’t trying hard to grow every day. They aren’t agonizing over that. They simply stay rooted. Their blossoms just burst out at the right time. As they bloom together, they bless me and everyone else who sees them. Those deep roots are getting it done, and everything thrives.
Paul says that when my roots are deep like that I will finally get a grasp of the depth of God’s love for me. I will experience the love of Christ, which is even greater than a guy as amazing as Paul could understand fully. How incredible is that? And finally, my search for the wholeness and completeness that has been so elusive will become reality in my life.
My part in becoming deeply rooted is to stay put. Stay in the love of Christ. Stay obedient. Your roots will grow deep, your life will blossom, and you will create beauty in your world.
- When I am rooted deeply, God takes responsibility for my blooming. When I am rooted deeply, I can endure storms and drought without withering. God, help me go down deep into You.