Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 3:14-21 (day four)
It is in times of temporary distress or tribulation that, if we’re keeping in step with the Spirit, we can begin to appreciate the magnitude of God’s love. In times of weakness or hardship, we develop a further understanding of the width, length, height, and depth of the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.
When we see the Lord move in someone’s life whom we have a distaste for, or even despise, we see the width of God’s love that extends to every living thing, a far wider love than we can offer. When we think to ourselves after our latest failed attempt to get rid of that issue of sin in our life, “Surely I’ve exhausted God’s grace,” we see the length of God’s love that extends eternally, without term limits. When we cry out for an Advocate, we see the height of God’s love that extends from this earth all the way up to the throne room, where Christ intercedes on our behalf. In our absolute lowest moments, we see the depth of God’s love, finding us at rock bottom and pulling us up again.
We know, as we’re told in Romans, that tribulations bring about perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. But it’s not simply the experience of these hardships that cause this to happen. It’s the newfound experience of God’s love that leads us to hope. So if you’re in the thick of distress right now, don’t dismay. You’ll find new, unexplored territory of God’s love – more than you could ever ask, think, or imagine.
I can’t tell you how blessed I am weekly by your comments. You have a gift for language and practical scripture interpretation for living. Thank you for sharing you thoughts each week.
I love the way you talk about how the width, length, height, depth of God’s love applies to us, as I’ve always wondered why Paul described it with these four words. Also how the experience of God’s love leads us to hope — my experience exactly!