Rooted in Love
The 24th Sunday after Pentecost
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your being, and all your strength. ~ Deuteronomy 6:5 (CEB)
Paul writes: I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then 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 3:16-17 (NLT)
KEY IDEA:
Sink your roots deeply into God's love because his love is deep enough to sustain you.
PRAYER:
Dearest God, your love is so big that no one could measure it. That's good for me because you have enough love so that people like me, who don't really take full advantage of what you give, can still be loved. Help me to sink the roots of my life deeper into your love so that I can grow strong and healthy. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
