How deep is the love of Christ?
This week’s devotions are based on Week 6 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Depth provides stability.
If you are building a building, the depth of the foundation is important to the stability of the building. In soft soil, piers have to be driven deep into the ground to provide solid stability for whatever is built on top of it.
Depth provides strength.
A tree that has a deep tap root can withstand stronger winds than a tree with a shallow root base. A fence pole that is driven deep into the ground can provide a strong point of anchoring for the rest of the fence.
Depth provides sustenance.
I learned recently that when you plant a tomato plant from a starter plant, you don’t just put the part of the plant that has soil on it into the ground, rather you pluck the lower leaves off and then bury the plant up to the second set of leaves (or even deeper). At the bottom of a young tomato plant are little fuzzy hairs that come out of the stem. When these are buried, they become roots that provide much more sustenance for the plant as it produces fruit.
The love of Christ is deep.
This week we have been looking at the width, height, length and depth of God’s love for us. The directional terms combined communicate the expansive nature of God’s love for us. But when one looks at each individually, the marvel of his love and grace are greatly augmented.
Ephesians 3:18-19 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
The depth of Christ’s love provides stability.
The one constant in life for the Christian is the love of Christ. No matter what happens in life we cannot be separated from the love of God.
Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The depth of Christ’s love provides strength.
The more the reality and impact of God’s love works in me, the stronger our faith becomes. It drives our lives, calms our hearts, and assures our mind.
Colossians 2:6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
The depth of Christ’s love provides sustenance.
We cannot give what we do not have. Christ love pours into us so that his love can pour out of us.
2 Corinthians 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
I pray that you grasp, I pray that I can grasp the depth of Christ’s love for us!
Apply: Which of these three aspects of the depth of Christ’s love do you need most today? How will you fill yourself with Christ’s love today?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the depth of your love for us. May it give us stability, strength and sustenance today! AMEN
How high is the love of Christ?
This week’s devotions are based on Week 6 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Yesterday, we went with my mother-in-law to look at living arrangements that might suit their season of life and need for independence, but perhaps additional resources to help them do things they are challenged to do like they used to. The one apartment available that the sales agent showed us was on the fourth floor of the complex and in the corner of the building. As we stood out on the patio you could see for miles…all the way to downtown Minneapolis…which is about 25 miles away. The sales agent mentioned you can see 10-12 fireworks displays from this vantage point. For 180 plus degrees you could see for miles around.
Having a vantage point at the top of a mountain peak, a tall building in a city or a high hill can be an awe-inspiring vantage point. One sees much more than what can be seen at street level.
Sometimes we can view the love of Christ from a street-level view point. We see the immediate effect of his presence and power and enjoy the saving grace and the forgiveness he gives to us. But do we really realize how “high” is the love of Christ?
Ephesians 3:18-19 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
When we take an elevated viewpoint of the love of God we begin to see different facets of his love that maybe we miss when we simply go through our day with little awareness of his love. When the Spirit of God elevates us above our day to day routine, we begin to see more fully God’s love. The first part of Ephesians elevates us to see the eternal plan of God that orchestrated our salvation in eternity and precisely carried out a plan to ensure that we were included in grace today.
Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
Chapter 2 of Ephesians gives us an “out of body” experience that shows us what happened while we were spiritually dead to bring us to life and ensure us that we are saved and heaven is ours.
Ephesian 2:4-5 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
We see the height of God’s love as he lifts our eyes heavenwards and promises the room in heaven and an eternity with him. Throughout the Scripture, as we take time to slow down and enjoy the view, we see God’s amazing love that he is orchestrating for us on a daily basis. Perhaps the best today is to stop and slow down and reflect on God’s great love from a vantage point of the height of Jesus’ love!
Apply: What do you see when you view God’s love from a high vantage point?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the immense love you have for me that not only shows itself on a daily basis, but also to see the many things we miss, but you regularly show to us! AMEN.
How wide is God’s love for you?
This week’s devotions are based on Week 6 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Ephesians 3:18-19 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
How wide is the love of Christ?
Have you ever been part of a “group hug”? You know, those moments when a group of people perhaps have a bit of tension among them and someone suggests, “Group hug!” Everyone stretches their arms out as wide as they can and encircles as many people as possible. The best is when the width of the hug’s reach is wide enough to encompass everyone who is there.
It feels good to be part of a group hug. It’s great to have the arms of others wrapped around you in a truly sincere hug. You feel included. You feel loved.
When asked, “How much does Jesus love you?” a child may respond by flinging their arms as far apart as they can and saying, “THIIIIIS MUCH!”
It’s true. Jesus loved you enough to stretch his arms as wide as they could and have his love spread over you…and many more. • John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
To be included in Christ’s saving work is in itself a tremendous gift of love. But then to add to that, the width of God’s love has also led him to include us in his family! 1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!.
Over the centuries, God’s love has stretched wide over many people around the world and across the eras. He has included in the hug of his grace people from every nation, tribe and people group. He has given to forgiveness to countless people around the world and assured them all that they were part of his family. His love for all of us is boundless. It is lavished on us and surrounds us.
- Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.
You too!
Jesus’ love is so wide that it also includes you.
You don’t have to question it, earn it, or try to justify it. The group hug of the Father, Son and Spirit’s love wraps securely around you and assures you, you are a loved, forgiven child of God.
I pray we all can grasp how wide is God’s love for you today!
Apply: Have you ever felt outside the love of God? How does it feel? As you picture and sense the arms of your Savior wrapping around you, how does it feel to experience the width of God’s love for you?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the immense width of your love that includes me in your love. AMEN.
If you only knew how much I love you!
This week’s devotions are based on Week 6 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Every parent has probably gone through a situation or season in their life of raising their children that they feel the displeasure of the children. Perhaps it’s a fit after not buying a toy in the store. I maybe was the refusal to let them go over to a friend’s house, or as a teenager a blistering rampage about a curfew that was too early.
In all of these situations and more, a child’s response might be, “You don’t love me” or more direct, “I hate you!”
To be sure, these interactions pierce the heart of a parent who has unconditional love for their child and giving their best effort to guide their children in a way that is beneficial and training them to be a blessing to the people around them.
If they only knew how much you love them.
If only.
It might be years after that finally a grown child, perhaps with children of their own, encounters a similar situation in their parenting life and calls you up and says, “I’m sorry. I never knew. I never knew how much you loved me. Thank you.”
In the moment we can fail to see the unconditional and undying love of our parents, but how much greater it would be if we could, in the moment, see how great the love our parents have for us.
In a much greater way, how often do we react to our heavenly Father in the same way. We have a fit when he doesn’t do what we want. We doubt his love when a season of hardship comes into our lives. We push against the boundaries that his law sets up for us. Too often we simply think, “God doesn’t love me!”
Oh, how God must react in heaven when we act this way and want to scream in our ears for our hearts to be convinced of…”If they only knew how much I love you!”
As Paul writes to the Ephesians he wants them to know HOW MUCH God loves them! Just to grasp a bit more the immensity of God’s love for them personally. The first part of the letter has laid out God’s love that called them empowered them, made them alive, gave them purpose and more. All of this that shapes their identity is simply because of God’s love for them.
So as we begin this new week, Paul’s prayer is my prayer for you as well…
Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Apply: What aspect of God’s love do you forget about most or question the most?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for always acting in love toward me. Forgive my failure to see your love and then question your love. Lead me always to see, to grasp, and to live in the fullness of your love. AMEN.
Are you a servant of the Gospel?
This week’s devotions are based on Week 5 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Ephesians 3:7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.
The Apostle Paul certainly had a special privilege and calling that he had received from the Lord to bring the message of the Gospel to the Gentile/Mediterranean world. His travels, interactions, writings all served to bring Jesus to the hearts of thousands of people and still God is using his inspired writings to reach people like you and me.
But what about you?
Are you a servant of the Gospel?
A servant is one who is under the guidance and supervision of a master. The servant takes their direction and orders from the one he serves. Many of the parables that Jesus told in the Gospels involved a master and servants. The Master is often Jesus himself or the heavenly Father. The servants aren’t just his disciples, but all his followers.
So yes, you are a servant.
As a believer, a follower of Christ, we recognize that our Master is Christ himself. We are no longer slaves to our sinful nature, but rather a servant who is intent on doing the Father’s will.
So what does that look like to be a “servant of the Gospel?”
A servant of the Gospel sees a primary purpose in life is to live out the new life that the Gospel has given them. We are no longer serving our sinful nature and all its desires and cravings, rather we fall in step with the Spirit of God and let his will, influence, and direction permeate our lives.
A servant of the Gospel sees a primary purpose in life is to share the Gospel. God wants all people to be saved. People are saved when they hear the Word of Christ, the Gospel message. God in his infinite wisdom has chosen his followers to be the people that communicate that message with people. Sure, you do your task at work, at home, at school…but a servant of the Gospel always is carrying a bias to see relationships and interactions as opportunities to share the Gospel.
A servant of the Gospel is not looking for accolades and self-promotion. They, as Paul, recognize this status as a servant of the Gospel is one that is given to them by God’s grace. And that is enough. At the end of the day, we are simply doing our duty. This is what Jesus taught in Luke 17:7 “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
So fellow servants of the Gospel, enjoy living today simply doing your duty, living and sharing the Gospel God has shown to you!
Apply: What opportunities might God give you today to more directly live out your role as a servant of the Gospel?
Prayer: Lord, your grace is amazing to both call me into your family and call me to be a servant of your Gospel. While some like Paul are full time in this role, help me to see the interactions of my day as an opportunity to live and share the Gospel message you have given to me. AMEN.