Explore the depths of God's love!

I pray that you … 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, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:18-19)

Ever looked out over the ocean?  Ever looked out over the ocean in a beautiful place where the water is blue and crystal clear (Galveston doesn’t count)?  Beautiful deep blue water as far as the eye can see!

I heard the other day that of all the places on earth, the ocean was the least explored.  Maybe that’s because we don’t really even know how big it is.  Scientists have tried to guess, but the truth is, we really don’t know how wide, long, deep the ocean is!  Think about that.  Let that set in for a moment.  

And yet, the Bible says the love of God is even greater! 

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians (and for us by the way) is that they/we would have the power (through the Spirit) to wrap our minds around just how much God really loves us!

His prayer is that we might explore the depths, the cracks, the crevices, the trenches of God’s love that so many others seldom come to see.

He prays that in Christ and through His Spirit we would become great explorers of the deep ocean known as God’s grace, mercy, and love!  When I think about the true meaning of this verse I can’t help to think that most of us have only stood upon the shore or waded into a comfortable level with God.

Which begs me to ask: Where are you in your journey? Ankle deep? Waist deep? Treading water?

What are you waiting for?  Dive in!  Dive deep!  Explore the beauty and majesty the IS God’s love.  Find His mercy lying deep down next to His justice.  Explore His grace and compassion.  Check out His unfathomable forgiveness. 

 

Dive in and explore!  Each area of His love is filled with a lifetime of beauty, splendor and adventure!

According to Paul… only then will we be able to be filled with the full measure of Christ!

And let me close with this thought… its one I can’t shake this morning.  You can take it or leave it.  You can over examine it.  But it’s just a simple observation on my part: I think this kind of exploration of God’s love is something that takes practice!

Do you remember learning to swim?  When you first began, you could only hold your breath for so long.  And because of this, you could only dive so deep, and see so much.  But, as you learned how to swim and practiced, your lungs developed and you could stay under longer and see so much more!

I love to snorkel.  One of my favorite things is to take a deep breath and dive as deep as I can to take in all of the beauty of God’s creation.  

I think it’s a bit like that with trying to grasp God’s love.  It’s not a one-time road trip to the beach.  It’s a lifetime of submerging yourself in the ocean of God’s love and mercy!  It’s daily going as deep as you can and taking in all the beauty and splendor you can handle.

I hope and pray you (we)  hunger to see the depths of God’s love and mercy!  Dive deep my friends!