Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 3:14-21 (day two)
…and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend…
From the distance of a TV screen or newsfeed we have all just witnessed the awesome power and devastation of a hurricane upon the Southeastern United States. In the coming days efforts will be made by many to help those affected to begin to piece together what remains of their belongings, their homes, families, and lives. It is an awesome sight to behold the destruction of such wind and rain, and yet there are some things that somehow withstand those forces. Often, they are centuries-old trees whose root system extends almost as deep as the tree is tall. This system of grounding, designed by the almighty, was fashioned to serve the purpose of withstanding adversity.
Paul reminds us this grounding also allows us to comprehend God’s full love. Without proper grounding in God’s love, we cannot appreciate God overwhelming goodness. The incredible fact is that the more you are grounded in his love, the more you are able to comprehend, thus creating a greater desire to know and love him more. Dig deeper. Love hard. Witness the majesty of God.
We couldn’t reach Eric for 36 hours over the weekend; he lives in Marshall, NC, and its downtown was under 10 feet of water. On Saturday night, he drove to Tennessee to get cell coverage and let me know they and their house were okay. This verse from our anthem on Sunday was SO meaningful to me:
“When through the deep waters I call you to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow,
For I will be with you your troubles to bless
And sanctify to you your deepest distress.”
We all need to pray for and help the many, many people affected by this catastrophic storm. And thank God for being sufficient in our deepest distress.