Family Resemblances
I have been going through old photos recently and can't help but notice family resemblances. If you ever met my rather extensive family, you'd see how. I take after our dad's side and my sister after our mom's side in looks. These are obvious physical similarities. But beyond those, we also share nonphysical interests--the exception being my never having gotten into golf. Because of our common interests, we are a close knit family. But more important than that family tree is another family tree.
Let's begin by looking at two versions of Ephesians 3:17-19.
"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of Christ" (NASB).
"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, have the 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" (ESV).
I decided to look this up after a Bible study some months ago. It seems that being rooted and grounded in God's love provides both source and establishment of our life and our growth and our fruitfulness.
Psalm 1:1-3: "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way or sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers" (ESV).
Jeremiah 17:7-8: "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit" (ESV).
Psalm 92:12-15: "The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him" (ESV).
1 John 3:1-3: "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God, and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and it has not appeared yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him, purifies himself, just as He is pure" (NASB).
Tree Rings
Trees grow true
To their seed
Yet influenced
By soil, sun, water,
Storm and root,
Shadow and knife.
Each season marks
A ring of life,
Unique though
Trees grow true
To their seed.
Let's begin by looking at two versions of Ephesians 3:17-19.
"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of Christ" (NASB).
"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, have the 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" (ESV).
I decided to look this up after a Bible study some months ago. It seems that being rooted and grounded in God's love provides both source and establishment of our life and our growth and our fruitfulness.
Psalm 1:1-3: "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way or sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers" (ESV).
Jeremiah 17:7-8: "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit" (ESV).
Psalm 92:12-15: "The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him" (ESV).
1 John 3:1-3: "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God, and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and it has not appeared yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him, purifies himself, just as He is pure" (NASB).
Tree Rings
Trees grow true
To their seed
Yet influenced
By soil, sun, water,
Storm and root,
Shadow and knife.
Each season marks
A ring of life,
Unique though
Trees grow true
To their seed.
posted by Ebeth | 8:43 AM
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