| Blogs > marbella3 > The Word For Life. |
|
Living in the Branches Bible in a Year: 1 Kings –11 Luke 21:20–38 Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. Ephesians 3:17 Ephesians 4:–24 As I shared with my counselor my roller-coaster of emotions after a stress-filled week, she listened thoughtfully. Then she invited look out the window at the trees, lush with autumnal oranges and golds, the branches swaying in the wind. Pointing out that the trunks weren’t moving at all in the wind, my counselor explained, “We’re a bit like that. When life is blowing at us from every direction, of course our emotions will go up and down and all around. But sometimes we live as if we only have branches. Our goal is help you find your own trun That way, even when life is pulling from all sides, you won’t be living in your branches. You’ll still be secure and stable.” It’s an image that’s stuck with , and it’s similar the image Paul offered new believers in Ephesians. Reminding them of God’s incredible gift—a new life of tremendous purpose and value (Ephesians 2:6–), Paul shared his longing that they’d become deeply “rooted and established” in Christ’s love (3:17), no longer “blown here and there by every wind of teaching” (4. On our own, it’s easy feel insecure and fragile, pummeled by our fears and insecurities. But as we grow in our true identity in Christ (vv. 22–24), we can experience deep peace with God and each other (v. 3), nourished and sustained by Christ’s power and beauty (vv. 15–16). Reflect & Pray When do you feel most “blown here and there” by life’s challenges? How might remembering your identity in Jesus encourage and strengthen you? Jesus, thank You for the overwhelmingly good news that the strength needed withstand life’s challenges isn’t our own. Help us grow ever-deeper roots in Your love and our place in Your family. 
|
|||
|
What an apt and timely analogy! Be a prism, spreading God's light and love, not a mirror reflecting the world's hatred.
|
×
×