June 12, 2026 | Be Connected
The Fullness of God
Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21(NIV)
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Devotional
There is a spiritual practice that I find very helpful when reading scripture. It’s called Lectio Divina or “divine reading”. In this practice you read through the passage very slowly multiple times, each time allowing the words to speak to you in different ways. The steps for Lectio Divina are first read, then meditate, then pray and finally contemplate. This process allows you to read the passage in a new way and it always brings out something fresh and alive about the passage.
As I read through today’s scripture using Lectio Divina, the phrase that kept speaking to me was “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love.” The word “rooted” reminds me of something that’s deep, firm and unmovable. Something sturdy. And then I looked out the window and saw the many and varied trees in my backyard - firs, maples, etc. Trees - deeply rooted in the ground, standing firm and unmovable. What a wonderful metaphor for our faith and being “rooted and established in love.”
Our Christian life is much like a forest where many individual trees with many different characteristics come together to form a strong ecosystem. We also come together, as individuals with many stories and faith journeys, to form the church, strong and rooted in Christ, even though our individual branches may grow in different directions. Our different, unique roots, just like the forest, are interwoven together to provide strong support and strength during the storms in our lives. We are stronger together than we are separately.
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
And just like a forest filled with trees began with one small seed, our life in Christ began when we first experienced that single, small spark of faith - the size of a mustard seed - when we first believed. That seed took root and grew as it was nourished by the community of believers and the grace of God.
As we find ourselves “rooted and established in love”, may we find our strength in the life of our Savior Jesus Christ and in the strength that we find as a community - or forest - of faith.
