so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
Intellect and emotions are operations of the mind but faith is the operation of the pondering heart.
Note the comma at the end of the opening verse. That is not all that is to be said about operating faith.
18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
That is a lot to take in and to comprehend is likened to the translation center of the brain we spoke of yesterday. Faith is the operation center of comprehension of this life in Christ.
We are rooted and grounded in the love of Christ. Two important aspects of faith operations are found here. Roots transfer life forces in this spiritual life and grounded indicates a firm foundation where we are never separated from the source of His love.
Let’s focus on verse 20 for a moment. He is able to do above and beyond our capacity to perform. The subject matter has not changed, we are still talking about love. His love changes us just because of His abiding presence. Relationships have influences in our lives and this relationship is compelling.
Read the love chapter again, 1 Corinthians 13 which is titled the Way of Love. It is how God loves us. One aspect of love is giving over self to another. Christ gave Himself for us, how we respond to that immense love is an operation of faith.
This is after all a cooperative relationship, meaning we have a role to play. He does not force Himself on us, He just wants us to know His will and allows us to choose obedience of faith to do our part.
To know Him is to love Him.