COMPREHENDING THE MAGNITUDE

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-19)

Devotion 12 of 20

THE HEIGHT
"...may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the . . . height . . . "

      How high is the "love of Christ" and the "great salvation" of God? Like God's "faithfulness," "mercy," and "truth," His love "reaches unto the clouds," or "into the skies." As it is written, "Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds" (Psa 36:5). And again, "For Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and Thy truth unto the clouds" (Psa 57:10). And again, "For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him" (Psa 103:11). And again, "For Thy mercy is great above the heavens: and Thy truth reacheth unto the clouds" Psa 108:4).

      Do not think that the love of Christ is disassociated from God's faithfulness, mercy, and truth. Without those Divine attributes, the love of Christ would have no significance whatsoever. However, the integration of His love with those qualities make it effectual to accomplish the will of the Lord within us. This love is not a mere affection, although it is surely united with affection, preference, and attraction. This is a provisional love that brings the very best things in heaven's heights to those in earth's depths.

    How appropriate that this love is responsible for lifting us into heavenly places. It is a truth you have long known, but let it once against ravish your heart. "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:4-6).

      There, in the upper regions, our God has "blessed us with all spiritual blessings" (Eph 1:6). This is a provision of His love, which is high! Such marvelous benefits are not mere legal provisions, but benefits flowing from the spring of Divine love. O, to know more of the "height" of this love, that not only reaches into the heavens, but brings us into them!

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for a Your love that envelops and nourishes me in the high places.

-- Tomorrow: THE DEPTH --