GOD’S LARGE HEART (1)

“What is the WIDTH and LENGTH and DEPTH and HEIGHT – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge” – Ephesians 3:17b-18a

The human mind cannot fathom the Immensity of GOD’S LARGE HEART: “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the WIDTH and LENGTH and DEPTH and HEIGHT – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph.3:17-19). When we talk of the Big- or large-hearted God, we’re trying to describe using limited human vocabulary, the God whose love cannot be contained and who has an ardent desire for real relationship. Paul’s prayer tried to capture the immeasurable dimensions of God’s Heart of Love and Generosity. The wonder of it all is that this large-hearted God dwells in our hearts!

These physical dimensions – width, length, height, and depth – are imperfect expressions of the incomprehensible magnitude and the incredible immensity of God’s Love, one that reaches beyond what we can fathom within the confines of Time and Space. God permeates creation with His Glory. In these inspired verses, a portrait of God’s Big-hearted Love and His desire for eternal relationship emerges. Such amazing words are not simply mantras to be memorized. They should come alive and be demonstrated in our interactions with God. In His big-heartedness, God is not above putting His Love on display in our lives in intimate, personal ways. However, the greatest portraits of His Love are not found in personal experiences but in His Son as revealed in Scripture.

A large-hearted person is constantly connecting, reaching out and investing in relationships by caring, giving, sharing, and offering a helping hand. He or she isn’t above getting down in the dirt of people’s lives to make a difference. The simplest request for help becomes an opportunity for relationship. It’s not so much about the act of service as it is the expression of love, care, and companionship. A large heart shows generosity or liberality: an attitude of sharing gladly whatever one has regardless of wealth. This is an attribute of God: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2Cor.9:8). .

Jesus’ words exhibit His Large Heart: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Mt.5:43-45). In His words and deeds, we catch authentic glimpses of the large-hearted and immensely generous God, truly discover Him in a healthy, refreshing new way, and are empowered to love others genuinely.

Our God is so large-hearted He gave His best – His Son Jesus – to demonstrate His sacrificial, redemptive love:  ^“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jh.3:16). Along with His Son, God  freely gives us all things: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom.8:32). God lavishes us with His Love and care! He doesn’t hold back from the grit and grime of our lives. Our large-hearted God speaks to us; listens to us; and even dances over us.

God is extremely large-hearted and He wants to enlarge our hearts’ capacity for same! God is always gracing us with more than we deserve or even ask for: “Now to Him who is able to do EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (vv.20-21).