COMPREHENDING THE MAGNITUDE

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-19)

Devotion 10 of 20

THE BREADTH
" . . . may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth . . . "

      If you survey the breadth of the love of Christ, you will find it broader than the earth. When you scan the earth, you will find it has a beginning and an ending. The love of Christ, however, extends from eternity past to eternity future. It is never represented as having a beginning, and nowhere is said to have an ending.

      How marvelously that love is expressed in Ephesians 1:4, and what breadth it has! "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." The breadth of this salvation also extends into the ages to come, wherein God will "show the exceeding riches of His grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:7).

      The Lamb of God (the ultimate expression of love) was "slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev 13:8). Before the worlds were framed by the Word of God (Heb 11:3), the preincarnate Word volunteered to lay down His life, a ransom for many (Heb 10:5-10). He agreed to lay aside the prerogatives of Deity, and enter the world in a form that required dependency upon, and servitude to, the God of heaven. Peter provided this perspective on the subject. "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you" (1 Pet 1:20).

    That is not the end of the matter. After the heavens and earth have passed away, the love of Christ extends into the "world to come." At the threshold of eternity, the Son will say to the Father, "Behold I, and the children that Thou hast given Me" (Heb 2:13). As eternity rolls its ceaseless cycles on, we will "reign with Christ," in continuing confirmation of His great love.

    When it comes to "breadth," there is nothing as extensive as the "love of Christ" and the "love of God." They are broad enough to capture your vision and enthrall your heart. The contemplation of this love will challenge your heart and intrigue your mind! But you must be strengthened to behold it. It is too vast for your natural capacities!

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Christ, I thank and praise You for an "everlasting love."

-- Tomorrow: THE LENGTH --