BLOG: February 2021
16 “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” (Eph. 3:16-18 NIV)
I had been a Christian for over 30 years when I heard a sermon on “What a Christian knows for sure.” At that time, I knew that my sins had been forgiven by God’s grace. As it says in Ephesians, 7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished upon us.” (Eph. 1:7-8). And I knew where I would spend eternity. 16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
But then the pastor took the words from John 3:16 a step further by reading Ephesians 3:16-18: 16“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”
Whoa! Wait a minute, did he say that Christ’s love is for me and in me through his Spirit? You mean I do not have to wait until I spend eternity with Him? How did I miss this gift that is available to me now?!
This revelation made a huge difference in my Christian walk. It gave me the ability to love myself and love others as Christ loves me. I was able to forgive those who had hurt me and love them unconditionally, not on my own power, but by the power of Christ working in me through the Holy Spirit.
A few years prior to hearing this sermon, some hurtful and disappointing circumstances in my life caused a gradual withdrawal from Christian fellowship. I felt unable to share the “real” me, fearing rejection from others in the church if they knew my whole story. However, spurred on by this new revelation of God’s love and acceptance, I made the decision to join a life group in my church. Together, we shared our stories and encouraged and prayed for each other. Not only was I not rejected, but I learned the importance of relationships with other Christians. God did not create us to live life alone.
So, some of you are probably thinking, where is the anatomy and physiology lesson? Well, let’s read on in Ephesians 3: 19“and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:19)
There is a big difference between knowing God’s love on a universal level and accepting this love as a personal truth. In your mind, you know that on the cross Christ manifested His great love for a dying world. In your heart, you believe that through His resurrection He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in your heart. His power in you increases your faith as you become more like Christ and see others through His eyes. As you know and believe His love, you are “filled…to all the fullness of God.”
Do you know how much Christ loves you? Not just in your mind, but in your inner being? In your heart? I pray that you do. Are you experiencing all the fullness that the love of Christ has for you? I pray that you are.
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made 