To know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge. (Ephesians 3:19)
This post highlights the the immeasurable love of Christ, offering encouragement for difficult times. Reflecting on God’s everlasting love and grace provides solace, faith, and hope in challenging circumstances.
In a world filled with hate, fear and vitriol, it is refreshing to be reminded that God is love. In Him there is no fickleness. People change. Man made systems change. Politics and political leaders change, but God does not change! Every good and perfect gift comes from above. It comes down from the Father of the heavenly lights. He does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)
There is no limits to God’s love!
Ephesians 3:14-20 is a reminder of the breadth and length and depth and height of God’s love. For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that he strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. He does this out of his glorious riches. This is so that Christ dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, have power. You can grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. This is possible together with all the Lord’s holy people. Also, know this love that surpasses knowledge, and be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
We can’t measure God by our own standards. He is love! That is his character and nature. But God shows His love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). We love, because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Unlike human nature, we love others only when we consider them worthy. It is not the same with God. There is a vast difference between human love and divine love.
My own spiritual journey began with learning to forgive others I felt had wronged me. Forgiveness opened the door to knowing how deep God’s love is for His creation, and by learning to love others. At times when I didn’t want to, His love compelled me to do so. Even today, I get angry at what’s happening in the world. I think of the carnage from the war between Israel and Hamas. I am troubled by the suffering of the Palestinian people. The vitriol and hatred spewed by the former President and certain white nationalists disturb me. I see how the Christian church has missed the mark. It has failed the high calling in Christ to love your neighbor as yourself. Despite all this, I am reminded of God’s commandment to love.
No Greater Love!
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Christ laid down His life for His enemies. Christ laid down His life for His murderers. Christ laid down His life for those who hated Him. He laid down is life for humanity. The spirit of the cross, the spirit of Calvary, is love. When they were mocking Him and deriding Him, what did He say? Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34). That is all consuming love. He did not call down fire from heaven to consume them; there was nothing but love in His heart.
The spiritual journey involves pursuing the path God has ordained. Along that path, encountering God’s love is vital for being rooted and grounded in our identity as Christians. We know that we are deeply loved by God. We are given the capacity to love others because we are made in His image and likeness. The spiritual journey is a change in identity and consciousness. It is experiencing God as you follow the path He has ordained for you. We see this repeatedly in the biblical stories of Moses, Joshua, David, Deborah, Esther, and Ruth. Christ’s disciples also encountered the love of God. Many others experienced it too as they passed through the waters, rivers, and walked through the fire. In my deepest, darkest hour when I lost my son at the age of 28, he was with me. He never forsook me. I believe today he will not forsake us. We face the fire of political divisions and partisan politics. We also navigate the culture wars. If we, as a people called by His name, humble ourselves and seek His face, He will hear from heaven. He will forgive our sin and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
The just will live by faith! (Hebrews 10:38)
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
Isaiah 43:2-3
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. This is according to his power that is at work within us. To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Eph. 3:14-20)
God help us to love to love one another! “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (Jn 13:34-35).
It is my prayer that these posts will encourage you to seek and get to know God more intimately. I hope you find comfort in these challenging times. We are “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.“
May the grace of God continue to abound to you more and more …
Note: All Scripture quotations are taken from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.
Minister A. Francine Green is an ordained minister and the author of Daughter of the King: Possessing Your Spiritual Inheritance
afrancinegreen.com 