Rooted in Love

Ephesians 3:14-21

Our new identity in Christ is significant: we are sons/daughter, unified in purpose, alive, marked by the Holy Spirit, etc. Paul adds another defining characteristic to that list, reminding us that we are rooted and established in love, which is radically different than and superior to being rooted and established by obligation. Obligation creates a “to do” list of halfhearted attempts to win God’s favor, but His favor already rests on us, and the most important aspects of our faith could never be quantified by a checklist. Love, mercy, sacrifice, forgiveness, etc., are all rooted in love and born from a heart transformed by the Holy Spirit. Obligation could never create the life that love inspires.