Beyond Comprehension

I think the Apostle Paul would agree with me because he wrote that the love of Christ is something beyond comprehension to the human mind and heart.

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 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.” -Ephesians 3:14-19

The thing of first importance from this passage is that Jesus Christ dwells in you, rooting you in the soil of His love.

Then Paul prays that all Christians may comprehend the love of Christ. He is telling us that knowing, trusting, and acting upon this belief will lead us to be “filled”—controlled by the very “fullness of God.”

Wow! Paul wanted to do everything to make his heart completely controlled by God because of God’s love for him. What can we learn from his example that will allow us to experience the fullness of God?

The Apostle John writes, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. …There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:16, 18).”

There are two key thoughts we can learn from in this passage.

1. God is love.
2. There is no fear in love.

A takeaway from this is that everything our heavenly Father allows in our lives must come through Him, and, because of that, all things are perfect for His purposes and agenda.

God’s love can only be defined as seeking the highest good for those whom He loves.

In every circumstance—good, bad, or ugly— we must cling to the work of God. He’s promised us that everything in His sovereign control will be used for our ultimate good.

In Romans 8, we’re reminded that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39). Living in this truth creates a foundation in our lives to trust God no matter what.

Yes, our circumstances can be painful, but we can trust that in His sovereign power God has promised to use bad circumstances to accomplish His great and glorious purpose for each of us.

The greatest evil this world has ever known happened at the cross of Christ, and through it God accomplished the greatest act of love in the universe. Jesus sweat blood over the cross, yet He still chose to drink the cup of the Father’s wrath—all because He knew and trusted the Father’s love.

Christ perfectly modeled what it means to abide in the Father’s love, and He asks us to abide in that same love (John 15). When Jesus prays to the Father in John 17, He meditates on God’s love for Him and all believers—including you and me.

"'Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. … Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.'” –John 17:23b, 25-26

How can we experience this incomprehensible love in the midst of all the pain, sorrow, and evil we live in every day?

I believe it’s possible when we look past the brokenness around us and look to the Lord, telling Him, “May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you (Psalm 33:22)."

So even when the tears flow over your circumstances, remember that it’s all going to be OK. God will work it out for our good and His glory.

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