Ephesians 3:14-19
\nFor this reason I kneel\u00a0before the Father,\u00a0from whom every family\u00a0in heaven and on earth derives its name.\u00a0\u00a0I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power\u00a0through his Spirit in your inner being,\u00a0so that Christ may dwell in your hearts\u00a0through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted\u00a0and established in love,\u00a0\u00a0may have power, together with all the Lord\u2019s holy people,\u00a0to grasp how wide and long and high and deep\u00a0is the love of Christ,\u00a0\u00a0and to know this love that surpasses knowledge\u2014that you may be filled\u00a0to the measure of all the fullness of God.<\/i>
\nGod the Father surrounds us with love. Discipleship is not about earning God\u2019s favor or adding something to improve the Gospel. The oldest most mature Jesus learner still needs the shed blood of Christ as much as the new born in Christ. The love of God the Father is perfectly shown through Jesus and his life and death, so we cannot be more loved because we are good disciples. He loves us through his Son, perfectly, eternally and unconditionally. He is the father of the prodigal, always yearning for our best, longing for our restoration when we stray and celebrating the victory when we return. We interact with Father, Son and Holy Spirit in community, the Holy Trinity, seeking our growth and transformation, and doing everything necessary to make it happen. This helps keep our personal efforts in perspective.<\/p>\n