Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.”
NL Daily Devotion for Friday, July 23, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
“Rooted and grounded in love.” Another one of my favorite phrases. Yeah, I find Paul perpetually frustrating in a lot of ways, but dude had some really amazing stuff to say.
Nature imagery is particularly powerful to me. There is a kind of universal understanding about great trees, strong, unmoving giants with reaching, embracing branches offering shade and sustenance, able to withstand storms and even fires because of deep, extensive root systems. What better image for our spirit as it grows in the rich soil of God’s love? If that is our sustenance, and God’s Holy Spirit moves through us as water and food moves through the trunk, we cannot help but become abundant, fruit-bearing trees.
What images best describe my spiritual life?
![1 Kings 17:1-16 [17-24], God’s Care for the Widow](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b39b61ab48de92d991a40a/bf37035e-33d5-439f-a0d6-a68b02d0f1bc/24-11-03.jpg)
