Deeper Love

“ ⁶ And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. ⁷ Let your roots go down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” —Colossians 2:6-7

“ ⁴ Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. ⁵ His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.” —Ephesians 1:4-5

(1.) The deeper life realizes we were created to be loved by God

“ ¹ This letter is from Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I am writing to all who are called to live in the love of God the Father, and in the care of Jesus Christ.” —Jude 1:1

(2.) The deeper life sees that God’s plan has always been to enjoy a relationship with him

“ ⁵ His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.” —Ephesians 1:5

“ ¹ How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God.” —1 John 3:1

“ ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own but his own did not recognize him. ¹² Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural decent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” —John 1:10-13

“ ¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the father, ¹⁵ from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that you to his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through 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 the power, together with all the saints, to grasp who 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.” —Ephesians 3:14-19

(a.) His love is long enough to be everywhere
(b.) His love is wide enough to last forever
(c.) His love is deep enough to handle anything
(d.) His love is high enough to cover my flaws

The Power of Embracing God’s Love

(1.) When I’m rooted in God’s love: I live in God’s redemptive grace rather than shame

“ ¹⁷ God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” —John 3:17

“ ¹ By faith we have been made acceptable by God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live in peace with him.” —Romans 5:1

“ ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us.” —Romans 5:8

(2.) When I’m rooted in God’s love: I can be bold in bringing my needs before God

“ ⁹ Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If then you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him?” —Matthew 7:9-11

(3.) When I’m rooted in God’s love: I have peace in the pain I don’t understand

“ ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” —Philippians 4:6-9

(4.) When I’m rooted in God’s love: I can freely and deeply love the people in front of me

“ ³⁴ A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” —John 13:34-35