Introduction
God is such a good, loving Father that he wants us to live with a foundational understanding of his affection toward us. He wants the knowledge of his unconditional love for us to be so deeply rooted within us, that all striving ceases and we live in total freedom as his children. Today we’re going to further explore that concept as we begin to finish up our week on knowing the heart of God.
Scripture
“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” EPHESIANS 3:17-19
Worship
Sails | Pat Barrett feat. Steffany Gretzinger & Amanda Lindsey Cook
Devotional
One of the most wonderful results of knowing the heart of God is living with a foundation of affection. Often we spend too much of our daily time and energy working for the affections of others. From trying to earn the respect and admiration of friends and family to vying for approval from a complete stranger, we are in constant need of affection.
But as believers we’ve been given a wellspring of love and affection in communion with our heavenly Father. There’s nothing we have to do or could ever do to earn the love of God. His love is the beginning. His affection is meant to be the catalyst for our emotions, thoughts, and actions rather than the result. It’s for this reason God calls us to be rooted and grounded in his love in Ephesians 3:17-19. Scripture says:
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
When we seek a fresh revelation of God’s unconditional love we naturally become secure and unshakable. When we discover the unfathomable depths of God’s affection for us we naturally stop vying for love from others. And as we daily access the heart of God we become filled with all his fullness, richly satisfied with a love far greater than we could ever earn.
1 John 4:16 says, “Whoever abides in love abides in God.” Take time in guided prayer to abide in the love of your heavenly Father. Let him surround you with his transcendent peace. Let him reveal his vast and overwhelming affection for you. And live today in light of God’s glorious grace that you might devote your time and energy to responding to love rather than earning it. May God’s affection be your foundation today.
Prayer
1. Meditate on the unconditional love of God available to you. Allow Scripture to fill you with a longing to be rooted in God’s love.
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10
2. Are you devoting time and energy to earning affection in any way? Are you seeking to earn love rather than living in response to the love you’ve already been given?
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of God’s love. Open your heart to encounter and receive the unconditional love of your heavenly Father.
“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19
Go
Ephesians 5:2 says, “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Live today as an act of worship to a God who’s loved you to greater depths than you could ever repay. Seek to love God in all you do, think, feel, and say. Whether interacting with a stranger, eating a meal with a friend, working, walking, or breathing, do it all for the glory of your loving Father. Allow God’s affection to be the foundation for your own. May your life satisfy the heart of God and stir up others around you to greater levels of devotion to our worthy King.
Extended Reading: Ephesians 3 or watch The Bible Project’s video on Ephesians.