November 30 “Ponder the Love of God” I pray that you … will have the power to understand the greatness of Christs love—how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is. —Eph_3:18 There is no way our little minds can comprehend the love of God. But that didnt keep him from coming… From the cradle in Bethlehem to the cross in Jerusalem weve pondered the love of our Father. What can you say to that kind of emotion? Upon learning that God would rather die than live without you, how do you react? How can you begin to explain such passion? Max Lucado. Eph 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, Eph 3:17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, Eph 3:18 may have power, together with all the Lords holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, Eph 3:19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Commentary: There are four definite petitions here which Paul makes on behalf of the Ephesian believers. 1. The petition is that the believers might be strengthened with [power] by his Spirit in the inner man. The spiritual nature of the believer needs prayer as well as does the physical. How often the spiritual is neglected while all the attention is given to the physical side. Paul prays for the inner man because he realizes that the outward man is passing away. Power is needed to live the Christian life, to grow in grace, and to develop into full maturity—which is the work of the Holy Spirit. We tend to pray a great deal for the outward man. It is a marvelous way to pray, praying for the physical needs of folk. It is wonderful to know that God does hear and does answer prayer, but we need to remember that the spiritual nature of the believer needs prayer as well as the physical. Only the Holy Spirit can supply power and growth for the full maturity of the believer. 2. In the second petition Paul prays that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. This is to think the Lords thoughts after Him. (NLT) 1Co 2:16-b- [But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.] Ye in me and I in you. Paul could exclaim, … Christ liveth in me … (Gal_2:20). IN CHRIST, is the High Word of this epistle. The wonderful counterpart of it is that Christ is in us. In Christ—that is our position. Christ in us—that is our possession. That is the practical side of it. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates (>noun a person without moral principles).(2Co_13:5). Christ has come as a permanent tenant by means of the Spirit to live in our lives. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing (Joh_15:5). 3. The third petition is a request that the believers may know of the uncomparable or outstanding love of Christ. He prays that they may be rooted and grounded in love. Paul wants them to know the love of Christ, which passeth all human knowledge. The vast expanse of the love of Christ is the love of God Himself. 4. The fourth petition is a final cry of an all-consuming longing, that believers may...... experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then they will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. youtu.be/nEi463LcxxA
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 01:45:49 +0000