Our scripture this morning is Ephesians 3:16-18 (NLT).
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.
Paul writes with encouragement to us all, reminding us that God has sent the Holy Spirit to strengthen us and that “Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him”. The last part of that sentence is the most important. God has provided the wonderful gift of salvation through Christ’s sacrifice for us; it is up to us to accept His love and go in His name.
He uses an example of growth as seen in nature, but we are rooted in God’s love and His heavenly kingdom rather than in the earth. He is always there, waiting for us to turn to Him. Once we choose to live for Jesus we begin to see “how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is”.
We have been asked to become part of the work for all His children, sharing the joy we have found in His forgiveness. When we have a personal relationship with God, we want others to know how wonderful it is to be connected to our Creator. We share our faith and His love with everyone in the hope they too will come to know the blessing of a life in Him.
Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we have trusted in our own feeble strength and limited wisdom rather than Your amazing love. Forgive us and change our hearts that we may be the channel of Your love to all. Amen.
