Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
April 20, 2023
Ephesians 3:14-19
14 This is why I kneel before the Father. 15 Every ethnic group in heaven or on earth is recognized by him. 16 I ask that he will strengthen you in your inner selves from the riches of his glory through the Spirit. 17 I ask that Christ will live in your hearts through faith. As a result of having strong roots in love, 18 I ask that you’ll have the power to grasp love’s width and length, height and depth, together with all believers. 19 I ask that you’ll know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that you will be filled entirely with the fullness of God.
Good Morning, The Joy of the Lord Is My Strength
I love spring. This spring has been especially fun. It is my first spring here in Madison, and I have been blessed by the beautiful color that dots every nook and cranny in town and along the country roads. In the yard of the parsonage, I am experiencing so many minutes of joy as I discover the sprouts of flowers of which I was unaware. Summer was in full gear when I arrived in July, and the spring flowers were long gone.
Our passage this morning’s passage reminds us of our roots in Christ. These roots grow deep and wide so that we may find secure footing during the quiet and rough times. Without deep roots, the first drought causes our faith to wither, and the heat of summer challenges our perseverance.
Our gardens' flowers, trees, and vegetables must be nourished to return and grow each year. Living things need air, water, food, space, and shelter to grow and survive. We, God’s children, need these things as well. Obviously, we have those physical needs, but how do we nourish our spiritual needs? Jesus provides for us the living water through the Word. The air through which God’s love moves comes with the Holy Spirit. Food is attained through our relationship with God and fellowship in the one body as we feed one another. Our space is the beautiful earth God created and blessed us as its caretaker. Finally, our shelter is God, who keeps us safe during the storms and provides light in the darkness.
All of these parts are essential for living a life in Christ. This is how we nourish and continue to develop a strong root system that will withstand all evil that attacks it. God’s love is the fertilizer that is the beginning, middle, and end of everything. God is love; God loves us. Hallelujah! Amen!
37 No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-39
Blessed God, We thank you for Your blessings. Hallelujah, Thine the Glory! Thank You! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: My faith grows strong when I am rooted in God’s word.
Tend Your Roots! Pastor Liz
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