Rooted and Grounded in Love

 

We see the words "rooted and grounded" written in Ephesians 3:17, "that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God."

 We, as believers, and through our faith in HIM (as Paul states) can be filled with all the fullness of GOD and comprehend it! How? If we are fixed, established, immovable, secure, firm, set, unwavering, settled, fastened, firmly implanted, unchangeable, and permanently stationed IN THE WORD OF GOD.

When we are firmly set in the word of God (to know it you have to read it), our focus and gaze, both internally and externally, can shift to deeper, spiritual matters that allow us to understand and grow because we lean into our rootedness in Christ (Ephesians 3: 16-19.) What exactly does being rooted and grounded in love even mean? In the Bible, Jesus is considered love. Every born again believer is to be rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus who is love. Jesus is our foundation in which we are to live life. (1 John 4:8, Ephesians 3:17, Colossians 2:6-7). The Bible is full of parables and hidden truths with clear meanings. One of the parables with a special meaning is found in Jeremiah 17:7 "blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord. whose confidence is in Him (rooted and grounded in Him) for he will be like a tree planted by the water who sends out its roots by the stream. Have you ever taken notice of trees that are planted on or near water? I live up the street from a park who has a big pond that feeds off of a huge lake. There are many trees around this pond and all of them are healthy even though they are very old. Their roots can easily reach out to that water source and even when undergoing drought and the hot summers of the Midwest they never become stressed, wilt, or die.

What does the Bible say about a man who trusts in the Lord? Scripture says any person that trusts in the Lord is like a tree planted by water and spreads out their roots by the river. Further interpretation is,  they don’t know when heat comes, but their leaf shall be green all the time (regardless of circumstances around them). They are not concerned in the year of drought and neither do they cease from yielding fruit (Jeremiah 17:8 KJV). Simply said, the person that trusts in the Lord is like a tree planted near water. A tree that has no water source will eventually die. A tree that has a constant supply of water will not thirst and will grow. When we are connected to Jesus, we will never thirst (lack). We will grow (mature in His Word giving us understanding). We will yield fruit (referring to the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5: 22-23).

The Bible often uses the word 'water' to represent/symbolize the Word of God. This "tree" representing us therefore, relies on the water of Life- which is the word of GOD. It is through the Word we grow, mature, understand, and have life. Again, when we are firmly set in the word of God our focus and gaze, both internally and externally, can shift to deeper, spiritual matters that allow us to and grow and comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height because we lean into our rootedness in Christ.

Look at these references to water and  Who/what "water" is:

*John 1:1 (KJV)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD.

*John 1:14 (KJV)  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. The WORD WAS GOD (as stated above) who became flesh--JESUS. Jesus was GOD in the flesh Who came to us. The disciples said, "and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

*Ephesians 5:26 (KJV)  That He might sanctify and cleanse it (His Church/believers) with the washing of water by the Word.

*John 4:14 (KJV)  Jesus speaking, "but whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."  ... like a tree  planted by the water.

Every tree that is near water will have its roots grow out towards the water to drink from it. God says for a born again believer to be rooted and grounded in love; the Living Water. Jesus/God is love according to scripture. Jesus says those that believe on him, out of their belly shall flow rivers of living waters. Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit flowing from within them.

Now look at these references:

1 John 4:16 (KJV)  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Ephesians 3:17 (KJV)  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love may know ...

Colossians 2:6-7 (KJV)  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  7  Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

John 7:38-39 (KJV)  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  39  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

In other words, the person that trusts in the Lord will be rooted and grounded in love which is God/Jesus. Their roots are by the river so they are filled with the Holy Ghost, they are dwelling in God and God in them.

The good news for this tree in particular, is that it will have green leaves and it will not worry or be anxious in a season of drought and will still continue to yield fruit if it is  firmly planted by faith. The person who trusts in the Lord will not be consumed (key word is consumed) by any troubles that may come in the world (troubles will challenge them/you) but there is no reason to fear or be anxious because the Lord is with them and you. The Lord is our provider and will keep our leaf green and we will still bear fruit during those dry seasons. 

You could say a season of drought is upon the earth as we speak. Are you still producing fruit regardless of the chaos and instability across the globe right now?  On the other hand, the person who does not trust in the Lord is in an opposite scenario. They will be affected by the drought (trouble) and more severe droughts to come. It will affect their leaf, and they will be worried because they are unable to bear fruit. For anything to grow it needs water, just as we need WATER to survive physically and THE WATER/WORD to survive spiritually . 

The born again believer that trusts in the Lord has the kingdom within themselves and is urged to share their fruit of life with those without. Why? Hoping that those trees (people) without would become planted/rooted in the Lord Jesus Christ as well... " Or despise thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" (Romans 2:4 (KJV).

 It is the goodness of God that leads those trees/people who are in trouble (without Jesus) to repentance. God wants them all to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ so they can be rooted and grounded in love, growing in grace and truth, and able themselves to bear the fruit of GALATIANS 5: 22-23.

Until He Comes,

-Pat-