One of the most basic human needs is our need to BE LOVED. I can remember a few childish incidents during recess in elementary school when I tested whether I was loved or not. I recall a few times sitting on the ground, with my legs crossed, and my head down (acting sad or upset) “inviting” someone to come and ask me what was wrong or if I was okay. With my heart and my posture I was seeking someone who cared about me. Sounds kind of psycho doesn’t it!?! We all pursue attention one way or another, but what we are really seeking is to find out who or if anyone loves us. Some of us behave badly, others pursue accomplishment, but what we are all doing a lot of the time is “inviting” someone, anyone to want us, to accept us, to love us!
In order to be mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually strong we need to KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are loved. Sadly, many of us look to fulfill our need to be loved in others, a friend, a boyfriend, a girlfriend, etc. when in reality there is only one person who can fulfill the deep need we have to be loved. If being loved is so important to be strong, where do we gain the greatest confidence that we are loved?
READ: Ephesians 3:14-21
In order to BE strong, we need a strong COMPREHENSION of how immeasurably much CHRIST loves us! If there is one characteristic that defines God it is love. In the Old Testament the primary word used to describe God’s love is hesed. 26 times in Psalm 136 it says that God’s, “steadfast love endures forever”. In the New Testament the word used to describe God’s love is agape. 1 John 4:8 and 16 say precisely that, “God IS love”. These words communicate that love is who God is. Love is His character. Love is His nature. God can do nothing other than love. So, if this is who God is what is it? God’s love is His unconditional acceptance and His faithful commitment to us. God’s love is not conditional, it’s not based on our performance, it is always available. How strong is Christ’s love?
Christ’s love for us is the FOUNDATION of our strength (Eph. 3:17) – One of the purposes of tree roots is to support the weight of the visible part of a tree above ground. It is not uncommon for the roots of a tree to go as deep down under the ground as a tree grows above ground. A strong, stable tree requires strong roots growing deep underground. Paul prays that our lives would be, “rooted and grounded in love”. Strength in life exists when the roots of Christ’s love penetrate deep into the “inner being” of our “heart”. Without deep roots of Christ’s love our lives are vulnerable to topple over at the slightest challenge or difficulty. It is only when we are convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are unconditionally accepted by God and that He is faithfully committed to us that we have a strong foundation.
Christ’s love for us is far GREATER than we know (Eph. 3:18-19) – A skyscraper . . . big. The Grand Canyon . . . huge. The earth . . . humongous. The universe . . . gigantic. Encountering or pondering anything of immense size produces awe and wonder. Words come up short in describing immense things, which is definitely the case in trying to describe Christ’s love. Paul says that the “breadth”, “length”, “height”, and “depth” of Christ’s love “surpasses” anything we are able to comprehend. Christ’s love is ginormous! Christ’s love is largmongous! There is no word or combination of words that can adequately describe the size of Christ’s love. Our greatest strength in life comes from knowing that we are loved by God.
CONCLUSION
According to verses 20-21 God is, “able (strong) to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power (strength) at work within us”. With Christ’s love as the foundation, God is able to accomplish anything and everything He wants to accomplish in our lives. Things beyond even what our minds can conceive. With being loved comes unimaginable power and strength for God to work in and through our lives. How strong is the strength of God’s love that is at work within you?
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