Ephesians 3:14-19
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name.
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name.
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
We need to be rooted and grounded in the Word. In Ephesians 4:11-16 it says that His plan is for us to grow into Him. We should be looking like Jesus. In Ephesians 3:17 it says "being rooted and established in love..." I was thinking about the roots of a tree and I came upon this picture I took when I went to Longwood Gardens. It was so fascinating because it was a miniature olive tree. Having gone to Israel in 1999 and seeing the huge olive trees, I was taken aback a little because of this small tree. I studied miniature trees then and found out that the roots of the miniature tree are pruned at intervals and you grow them in containers.
If we do not study the word and "prune" our studying at the roots, then we will not be able to "grow" into Jesus. Actually there are many ways that we can "prune" our walk with God. One main way is to not know and love Jesus or walk away from His love. We can just sit in church week after week and do nothing for the Kingdom of God. Then we will be just like the miniature olive tree - small and not growing. But if we do not cut our roots (the Word - God's love) then we will grow into God and grow fruit. The olive tree has been cultivated since ancient times and is a source of olive oil, wood and olives. Olive trees aren't always real tall but the trunks are wide and strong. They have lasted through time. Some olive trees in Israel are said to be from the time of Jesus. Are we going to be like the "miniature" olive tree and be satisfied with being contained or are we going to be strong like the olive tree and be strong and firm in our faith and love and grow much fruit? It is our choice. Let us make the right one and grow firm and strong in Jesus.
We need to be rooted and grounded in the Word. In Ephesians 4:11-16 it says that His plan is for us to grow into Him. We should be looking like Jesus. In Ephesians 3:17 it says "being rooted and established in love..." I was thinking about the roots of a tree and I came upon this picture I took when I went to Longwood Gardens. It was so fascinating because it was a miniature olive tree. Having gone to Israel in 1999 and seeing the huge olive trees, I was taken aback a little because of this small tree. I studied miniature trees then and found out that the roots of the miniature tree are pruned at intervals and you grow them in containers.
If we do not study the word and "prune" our studying at the roots, then we will not be able to "grow" into Jesus. Actually there are many ways that we can "prune" our walk with God. One main way is to not know and love Jesus or walk away from His love. We can just sit in church week after week and do nothing for the Kingdom of God. Then we will be just like the miniature olive tree - small and not growing. But if we do not cut our roots (the Word - God's love) then we will grow into God and grow fruit. The olive tree has been cultivated since ancient times and is a source of olive oil, wood and olives. Olive trees aren't always real tall but the trunks are wide and strong. They have lasted through time. Some olive trees in Israel are said to be from the time of Jesus. Are we going to be like the "miniature" olive tree and be satisfied with being contained or are we going to be strong like the olive tree and be strong and firm in our faith and love and grow much fruit? It is our choice. Let us make the right one and grow firm and strong in Jesus.
