Prayer to Comprehend

The ocean is one of my favorite places for several reasons. On the shore, the sound and sight of the waves is peaceful. Sitting near the shore is one of the places I completely relax. My husband and I enjoy snorkeling. Beneath the surface of the water is a world not usually visible, alive with colorful fish, sea turtles, and beautiful coral reefs. My husband is a certified diver and has done many dives in different places around the world. Off the coast of Guam, he dove to the ocean floor where a WWI and a WWII ship sunk so close to each other that my husband could “stand” between them and touch both with outstretched hands. Diving takes you further into the hidden world beneath the waves.

Then there is the Mariana Trench, the deepest ocean trench known to mankind. It is 1,580 miles long and 43 miles wide (average overall width). Depth recordings have exceeded 36,000 feet. There are depths of the ocean we have yet to fully discover what lives there.

One thought I always have as I look out over the surface of the ocean is how vast it is. It disappears on the horizon and goes to depths I will never see. However, mankind can measure the ocean. As we continue through Paul’s second prayer, he prayed for the Ephesian believers to comprehend God’s incomprehensible love in Christ.

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.^[1]

Ephesians 3:14-21 (emphasis added)

Last week, we meditated on Paul’s petition for Ephesian believers to be strengthened through the Holy Spirit in their inner being, so that Christ could indwell them through faith. This week, we will consider the outcome of Christ’s indwelling believers: they will comprehend and experience the love of Christ.

“that you being rooted and grounded in love” – Paul utilizes farming and architectural words (vs 2:20-22; 1 Corinthians 3:9; Colossians 2:7), verbs that express a continuing past action. Rooted gives us a picture of the soil in which God’s love flourishes. Grounded reflects the foundation on which a life of faith is built.

Paul’s prayer is that the Ephesian believers would be rooted and grounded in God’s love in Christ for believers (vs 19; 2:4). God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5), and God directs our hearts to His love and the steadfastness of Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

We are being rooted and grounded in God’s love that we “may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth” of the love of Christ (vs 18), and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge (vs 19a). We are to comprehend and then know the love of Christ. The principal way we comprehend and know is through being rooted and grounded in God’s Word because God’s Word is where we learn about His love, that He is love, and the immensity of His love.

We comprehend “with all the saints” (1:1, 15; 3:8; 6:18). It is not an elite group of believers that get to comprehend and know the love of Christ. All believers do. The body of Christ helps us to comprehend the love of Christ as we walk together and grow together, sharing what we have learned of Christ’s love with each other. This may come through corporate worship as we hear God’s Word preached, sing of God’s love, and partake in communion. It may also come through small groups and one-on-one time together.

We comprehend with all the saints “what is the breadth and length and height and depth” of the love of Christ. Typically, when we measure something, we measure using the first two dimensions in Paul’s list (breadth and length), and one of the latter two (height or depth). We can’t say for sure why Paul used four dimensions instead of three, but the most likely explanation is to show the vastness, the immensity, the infinitude of the love Christ.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?... For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35, 38-39).

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him(Psalm 103:11).

In “God Is Infinite”, we learned that each of God’s attributes, including His love, are limitless, without measure, boundless, and knowing no degrees. This is the truth Paul is expressing in specifying the breadth, length, height, and depth of the love of Christ.

We often rattle off John 3:16 without thinking of the impact of the words: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son…” This is what agape love is – it denies self and gives. There may be feelings associated with agape love, but it always involves action and is a matter of the will. God willingly gave His Son to die in our place. Jesus willingly gave up His rightful place in heaven, took on flesh, suffered, and died in our place that we might be saved (Philippians 2:6-8). He took our sins and bore the Father’s wrath because He loved us. The Father and the Son’s love was more costly than we can fully understand, yet, They both willingly, sacrificially gave.

We often lose our wonder of God’s love because we minimize, excuse, and dismiss our sin. We think we aren’t so bad, especially compared to so-and-so. We need to re-read verses 2:1-3 and remember who we once were – dead, following the course of the world and the devil, living in the passions of our flesh, and by nature children of wrath. Then, read verse 5: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved…” That is the love of God.

This is one of those times in writing where it doesn’t feel right to continue. It would be better to keep saturating our hearts and minds in the love of Christ, but we have more to learn about the love of Christ.

We already stated that Paul’s use of four dimensions instead of three was probably to illustrate the vastness of the love of Christ, but there are examples of each that can help us think more deeply and specifically about the love of Christ.

“breadth” – The love of Christ is so wide that it includes both Jew and Gentile (vs 2:17). It is also so wide that there is no sin or sin upon sin that could ever put us beyond the reach of the love of Christ. Neither our good works nor our sin can ever make Him love us more or less.

“length” – The love of Christ is eternal. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1).

“height” – The love of Christ exalts, raising us up with Christ and seating us in the heavenly places (vs 2:6-7). His love redeems us from hell and makes us citizens of heaven. In Christ, we are blessed with every spiritual blessing (vs 1:3).

“depth” – The love of Christ is sacrificial (vs 1:7-8). Depth reminds us of both the physical and spiritual anguish Jesus endured to redeem us. God reached down to the depths of our depravity to bring us into His very presence (vs 2:1-3).

“and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge” – Paul presents a paradox – prayer to comprehend the incomprehensible. We cannot completely fathom the immensity of the love of Christ. This is part of what it means for God to be infinite. He is incomprehensible in each of His attributes. Yet, God in His mercy does provide for us to know the love of Christ more and more. Paul’s paradox isn’t meant to discourage us, but rather to encourage us to increasingly dwell on the love of Christ. Previously, I said it didn’t seem right to continue through our verses because I wanted to saturate in the love of God in Christ. As we know and meditate on the love of Christ, it should motivate us to grow in knowing, personally knowing, that love more and more.

Reflection

1.    The two greatest commandments are to love God and love others. We are commanded to love one another as Jesus has loved us (John 13:34; John 15:12; 1 Peter 1:22). We will be known as Jesus’ disciples by our love. Loving others is being obedient to God’s commands. We are disobedient when we fail to love others. God’s love in Christ is the foundation and motivation that empowers believers for loving others as Paul expands later in his letter (Ephesians 4:1-2; 4:2). How does the love of Christ challenge and equip you to love others? What other loves replace loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?

2.    We looked at Jesus’ sacrificial love in Philippians 2:6-8. Paul preceded the example of Jesus with this command: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (vs 5). We are to have that same humble, selfless mindset. Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). What specific relationships or circumstances (ministry, work, school, etc.) do you need to grow in willingly denying self and giving? What are specific ways you can begin to love sacrificially?

3.    In “God Is Simple”, we learned that the fruit of the Spirit is singular meaning that like God’s attributes always working harmoniously together and not standing alone, we do not separate the fruit of the Spirit. In your life, how would it look for love to be joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. Apply this to one relationship or circumstance.

4.    John MacArthur concluded his commentary on today’s verses with: “The world cannot comprehend the great love that Christ gives because it cannot understand Christ. Worldly love is based on attraction and therefore lasts only as long as the attraction. Christ’s love is based on His own nature and therefore lasts forever. Worldly love lasts until it is offended or rebuffed. Christ’s love lasts despite every offense and every rebuff. Worldly love loves for what it can get. Christ’s love loves for what it can give. What is incomprehensible to the world is to be normal living for the child of God.”^[2] In what ways does your love look more like worldly love? In what ways does your love reflect Christ’s love?

5.    Read the lyrics or listen to Third Day’s Love Song. Saturate your heart and mind in the love of Christ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BufHuli3EkI

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 3:14–21.

^[2] John F. MacArthur Jr., Ephesians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1986), 110–111.