Rooted and Grounded in the Love of Christ
The Spirit of Christ within you is meant to keep you firmly planted in His love, just like a tree rooted and grounded in its place. In the love of Christ, you find safety and security.
As Ephesians 3:16-17 says,
“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love…”
The love of Christ is your spiritual habitat. In this love, you can endure offenses and grow into Christ in every way, speaking the truth in love. Offenses will inevitably come, both from within and without.
As Jesus said in Luke 17:1,
“It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!”
Offense is a test of the love of Christ within you. If you can swallow it, it contributes to your spiritual growth and maturity. The fruit of the Spirit is love, meaning that the evidence of spiritual growth is abiding in Christ’s love.
As Galatians 5:22 says,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…”
However, in the habitat of love, unforgiveness, malice, bitterness, backbiting, and gossip act as poisons. They introduce rot and decay, giving off a foul odor that attracts foul spirits.
As 2 Corinthians 2:7-11 advises,
“So that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
In the love of Christ, we find our safety and security by loving others. We affirm our trust in His love by extending forgiveness, patience, sacrificial service, and honor to our brethren, especially those of the household of faith.
As 1 John 4:16-18, 20 reminds us,
“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”
Reaffirm your stand in the love of Christ, knowing that nothing can separate you from His love. No trial, persecution, or any hardship in this life can fence you out from walking in love towards the brethren or from your labor of love towards the saints.
Be assured and boldly confident in the love of Christ. Let nothing sway you into offense. His love will never fail, and in loving the brethren, you will always be victorious.
As 1 Corinthians 13:8 declares,
“Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.”
Romans 8:35-39 further assures us:
“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NLT)
Abide in His love, walking in His love unto all pleasing.
I call you blessed.