Beyond Your Wildest DreamsSample

Experiencing God’s Love

Today we will focus on verse 19, but please read the passage again.

I have seven grandchildren between the ages of 1 and 9. Fortunately, they live close by, so I play a small part in their lives. I am not a great babysitter. I can’t change nappies, and according to my wife, I’m irresponsible with children, although I see it more as adventurous. I give them too many sweets, but I know how to play. They know I like them, but they have no idea how much I love them. They don’t know I love cuddling them and putting them to sleep. I enjoy playing repetitive games or watching Peppa Pig because I’m doing it with them.

I look forward to their visits. I pray for them. I think they know I enjoy spending time with them, but they don’t know the depth of my love. That’s like God and us. It’s hard for us to understand God loves us immensely. As we found yesterday, we must grasp God’s love. That’s what Paul says: “Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights!” God’s love is magnificent; the more we understand this, the more secure, free, and confident we become as his children.

In today’s verse, Paul goes further. He is not only praying that the Ephesians will “grasp” the immensity of God’s love (3:18) but that they will also “know” it (3:19). The word “know” refers to more than understanding. It indicates personal involvement. God’s love certainly needs to be comprehended, but it also needs to be personally experienced. It needs to be felt.

My grandkids may not always understand the depth of my love, but sometimes they know it because they experience it. I can tell by their response. Eyes shining as they look at me. Whispers of “I love you, grandpa” in my ear. They feel deeply loved, and naturally, they love back in their own way. Of course, it melts my heart. My love has broken through into their world.

There are parallels here. We will never fully know the immensity of God’s love for us while we are on earth. That’s why Paul says that it “surpasses knowledge” (3:19), but we get experiences of it. Like the proud and unemotional Scotsman crying his eyes out in my office as he experienced Jesus’ love and saving grace for the first time. Like the young adult girl who had been deeply damaged by her lifestyle, experiencing forgiveness, purity, and freedom at her baptism. Like the elderly guy who accepted Jesus after a rebellious life calling out hallelujah whenever I mentioned Jesus in a sermon.

God’s love is something we have to experience, not just understand. As we do, our hearts are softened, our joy flourishes, our passion intensifies, our love for others expands, our trust in Jesus grows, our hope strengthens, and our peace multiplies. I hope that you’ve experienced this in your own life. If not, it’s time. According to Paul, as we really “know” God’s love, we get “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” That’s an incredible outcome.

Sometimes God’s love catches us unawares. We are isolated and lonely and suddenly sense God’s loving presence. We have failed badly, and surprisingly we are bathed in the grace of Jesus. We are walking in the bush, and unexpectedly God’s beauty surrounds us. Still, our deepest experiences (real “knowledge”) of God’s love usually come as we wait on him, confess our sins, meditate on Scripture, worship with God’s family, and serve others.

Take time to personally pray with Paul (maybe on your knees) “May I know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge so that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”