“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, 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 3:17-19)
I wanted to be a dad for several years before I actually got there. During that time, I paid attention to how other guys described the experience of being a father. I noticed how that relationship was pictured in movies and books. I had a certain knowledge of what it was like to be a dad. I could imagine it.
But when I held my son for the first time on the night he was born, I felt something completely unexpected. I’m not usually an emotional guy, but I was overwhelmed by powerful feelings of connection, protection, and love for 7 pounds of crying baby wrapped in a blanket. Honestly, it was weird and wonderful.
Paul prayed that the Ephesians would have the power to “know this love that surpasses knowledge.” He wanted them to move past knowing about God’s love to experiencing it in their souls. To be rocked by that weird, wonderful love connection with our Father God is the key to filling our whole lives up with him. It’s a knowing beyond words that leads to satisfaction with him.
Think: Do you feel like you “grasp” Christ’s love for you, that you have experienced his overwhelming love in a way words can’t quite describe? If not, why do you think that is? Have you ever prayed this passage for yourself?
Pray: Thank God for his enormous love for you in Jesus – and that his love doesn’t change even on the days you can’t “feel” it.
Do: Pray this final passage for the 6 people on your list. (See the “Do” section for last Monday’s devo for details.)