WONDERS OF DIVINE LOVE

“To know the LOVE of CHRIST which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” – Ephesians 3:19

GOD’S WORD oozes the WONDERS of DIVINE LOVE: “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). Paul in praying for the Ephesians, stressed on the need for Believers to know the “LOVE of CHRIST which passes knowledge.” The Christmas Carol, “Joy to the World,” says: “He rules the earth with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness and WONDERS of HIS LOVE…”

The first wonder is that God has reconciled to Man. Part of Adam’s words after the fall were, "I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Gen.3:10). Because of sin, Adam was in hiding and in dread of the God who loved him. Now, the message for the world is “Do not be afraid” (Lk.2:10). God’s Love eliminates all dread of what He might do to us: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear” (1 Jh.4:18a).

In using the words, breadth, length, height, and depth, Paul was referring, not to different types of love, but to the vastness, immensity, and completeness of God’s Love, as shown in and through Christ. God would have us experience the Wonders of Divine Love in these terms:

The Breadth or Width of Divine Love: It’s infinitely wide in scope, not restricted, available to every human being (Col.3:11). Human beings tend, by nature, to limit the width of their love. They may love their spouse and children, but not their neighbour’s family. They may be willing to do anything possible to protect or rescue their immediate loved ones, but will think twice about doing the same for the stranger in need. God does love even the most heinous of sinners. He loves the person, not the deed. God loves who we are, but not necessarily what we do.

The Length of Divine Love: This refers to Time. God’s love is not fading or transient. He loves us forever, through eternity. Men can disappoint or offend one another and cease being friends. But God never gives up. He’s always there, always willing to love and forgive us, eternally.

The Height of God’s Love: There is something about ‘height’ that challenges and inspires the human heart, and beckons adventurers. Individuals who possess a particularly adventurous spirit, are driven by the desire to conquer even greater heights than before. God’s Love which we experienced in Christ, is Superior to any human love that anyone has ever experienced before. His love is the ultimate expression of love; the highest love that can be attained. The primary appeal of Jesus’ life and ministry is the magnitude of His love, not his teaching or miracles.

The Depth of Divine Love: Depth refers to the distance beneath the surface; that which is there yet often unseen. It describes how Solid and Real God’s Love is; how it reaches down to the core of our being, and changes us for the better.

God’s Love is so wide that it embraces everyone; so long-lasting that it will never let us go; so high that nothing compares with it and it will never let us down; and so deep that it can melt hearts of stone, penetrate the darkness of our worst thoughts, and wipe clean the closets of sin, despair, and hatred.

It doesn’t matter what we’ve done in the past, when we allow His love to flood our hearts and minds, it cleanses and transforms us (Rom.5:5). All that’s demanded is a willingness to let His Love in, and let the power of that love, do its work of healing with our hearts. We experience the vastness of God’s Love as we let Christ become the Centre of our lives, and we become rooted and grounded in His Love, and filled with His Fullness!