Taking Root Downward and Bearing Fruit Upward

Taking Root Downward and Bearing Fruit Upward

A tree must have a good root system and proper nourishment in order to bear fruit. A gardener who plants trees is always very concerned for its roots. Paul prays that the Ephesians may be grounded in love (see Ephesians 3:18-20). They couldn’t have any better soil in which to establish their roots. But they shouldn’t just have grounded their roots in love, for Paul prays that they might put down their roots so deep that they could know the depth of love, even its height, breadth, and length, so that they could absorb its entire substance, and be filled with all the fullness of God. And what we have neither understood nor understood to pray for, God lets us drink in according to the power that is working in us. This power, the power of absorption that is working in the roots, is the longing, the desire, and the hunger (poverty of spirit) for God Himself that He creates within us, and the roots grow in God through a deeper devotion to Him. Now love rejoices in the truth. 1 Cor. 13. Therefore love nourishes us through what rejoices and delights love itself. Thus we see that the power that is working in our roots is love’s longing for that which gives it joy. Moreover, the Spirit is to lead us to all—to each and every truth—so that we, in this godly love, can rejoice through its wonderful love and revelation. For this reason God gives us this love of the truth. But some people do not receive a love of the truth; therefore God sends them strong delusion that they should believe the lie. 2 Thess. 2:10, 12. If you receive this love, your roots will embrace and press into each truth, and you will grow and thrive by it. Paul says that we, faithful to the truth in love (faithful to the truth because we love the truth), may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ. Eph. 4:15. This is the hidden man of the heart, laboring in God. Just as the trees’ roots and their work is hidden in the ground, so the heart’s occupation in God is also hidden. It is a sealed fountain. But the work of the roots downward is the condition for bearing fruit upward. Therefore what you are in secret, you are openly. What you absorb of God’s nature in the hidden is revealed through you as fruit of the light that works in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. Eph. 5:9.