Different Knowings
Opening Prayer
“God loves me”—a simple but profound phrase. Ask God to help you appreciate it in a new way today.
Read EPHESIANS 3:14-21
[14] For this reason I kneel before the Father, [15] from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. [16] I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, [18] may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, [19] and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. [20] Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What is Paul's prayer for this church?We return to yesterday’s fundamental question: is God for us? “Of course” rolls off our tongues. In our heads we agree that “Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.” Our hearts, however, tell a different story. At this deep level we may not be convinced that God is for us, or that he really does love us.
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians addresses this. He talks about the limitlessness of Christ’s love (18), not to feed their minds, but to convince their hearts. He continues, that you may “know this love that surpasses knowledge”(19). Knowing something that surpasses knowledge isn’t nonsense. Paul is trying to describe something quite different from head knowledge. We know certain things instinctively, intuitively, in our guts. There is a knowledge that is deeper and more profound than knowing about God and his love. Paul longs for them to experience this, for then they will first be “rooted and established in love” (17) and, second, “be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (19). This is a deep, deep “knowledge” that is truly worth more than the finest gold!
Apply
Do you really know that you are loved by God? Repeat vs. 18,19; mull them over time and again.
Closing prayer
Thank You, loving Lord, for the knowledge that You truly, deeply love me, and nothing can ever change that.
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