EPHESIANS 3:17

“so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,”

When we lived in Florida, we had the distinct pleasure of living through several hurricanes. The power of those storms is amazing. But what is even more amazing is the strength of some types of trees to withstand the 150+mph winds. We had three large oak trees in our yard that had roots that were deep and wide. When the winds came, they lost a lot of leaves and some smaller limbs, but the trees themselves withstood the torrential rain and wind that lasted for hours.

In verse 17 today, Paul continues his prayer for the Ephesians (and us). He is praying “that Christ may dwell in” our hearts. He also prayed for us to be “rooted and grounded in love.” Just like those huge oaks trees in our Florida yard, we need to be rooted and grounded in the love of Christ so that nothing can shake us. Come what may, we are solid. We can withstand the onslaught of evil because Christ is our foundation.

APPLICATION

The Greek word translated as “rooted” is rhizoó, which literally means to fix firmly. We get our word “rhizome” from it. A rhizome is “a rootlike, often thickened, and usually horizontal underground plant stem that produces shoots above and roots below.” You can just picture that, can’t you? A strong network of roots running deep and wide.

It is used by Paul over in Colossians 2:6-7. “6 Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.”

The word Paul uses for “grounded” is themelioó. This word is used in Matthew 7:25 when Jesus is talking about the house built on sand and the house built on stone. The house built on stone was themelioó, grounded on the stone. The word is also used over in 1 Peter 5:10. “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” Go deep with Jesus. Let Him be your foundation.

Father, we praise You for helping us be rooted and grounded in You.