Monday 25/3/13

Ephesians 3:17-19 ESV

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.

To have the strength to comprehend all depths, to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, we must be rooted and grounded in love. Why?

One reason I think of is to comprehend all depths and to know the love of  Christ, we must go through hardship & trials. We can not easily & comfortably gain them. Being rooted in the love of God gives us strength to go through these difficulties without fainting & becoming bitter. Grounded in God's love, we know He is with us with His rod & staff as we walk through the shadow of death. And that He has approved the trail to build us up.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Another is that all wisdom & commandments in the Bible is to help us love God & love our neighbor. Therefore, only by rooted & grounded in love that we can comprehend them correctly. Otherwise, we may fall to legalism - keeping the outward appearance of the laws and the ceremonies, but empty of love andfull of envy and hypocrisy. The inner & spiritual parts, loving God & loving our neighbors, are more important than the external parts.