Together in Christ: 'Love's Dimensions' — Ephesians 3:18

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

And [I pray that you] may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
— Ephesians 3:18 NLT

Key Thought

What are the dimensions of God's love for us? I don't know the exact dimensions, but I do know those dimensions are cross-shaped:

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
 
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
[1]

Notice our "resume" NOT to deserve God's love — the words in bold in the above scripture. You see, our ability to understand "how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is " is a Spirit-discerned and emotionally felt measurement. This is why Paul prays for the Holy Spirit to help them gain this understanding. It is also why we need someone to be praying for us to have this understanding. And, dear friend in Jesus, it is why you and I need to be praying for people we love, especially those teetering on giving up their faith, to understand "how wide, how long, how high, and how deep" God's love for them is. Feeling the love of someone important to us counts for much more than any intellectual reasons they can give for liking us. While the latter is significant, and I am not discounting that, knowing how deeply we are loved and seeing that love proven in actions toward us and for us is far greater.

We are loved by the Creator of our vast, wonderful, and mysterious universe. He proved that love by coming to us and living as one of us. What he did for people then is a glimpse of how much God loves us now. What he did on the cross overwhelms any definition or description of love. And, our love for others grows spiritually and emotionally from our beginning to grasp God's great love for us! [2] Let's pray for each other to get a better grasp intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually on how much God loves us!

[1] Romans 5:6–10.
[2] 1 Thessalonians 4:8; 1 John 3:16-18, 4:7-12.

Today's Prayer

Father, I am praying for several people I love, some of whom are struggling with their faith. I am asking You, dear Father, to pour the Holy Spirit into their heart in an extra measure so they can know how much you love them and empower them to love others. * Open me — heart, soul, and mind — to realize better and experience the great dimensions of Your love for me. At the same time, please stir my heart to love others more and share Your great love with those who desperately need to know they are loved. I ask this in Jesus' name, and thanks for Jesus' demonstration of Your love. Amen.

* Romans 5:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:8.

Related Scripture Readings

  • John 3:16-27; 1 John 3:16-18, 4:7-12
  • Romans 5:1-11

Comments

Archived Facebook Comments

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Wednesday, September 18, 2024

A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
"Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. "And after that," he said, "I must go on to..."
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ..."
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
"Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good."
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
"Only the Lord gives wisdom; he gives knowledge and understanding. He stores up wisdom for those who are honest. Like a shield he protects the..."

Illustration

Illustration of Ephesians 3:18 NLT — And [I pray that you] may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.