Experiencing God's Presence #164

Experiencing God's Presence #164

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Ephesians 3:19

“It is too great to understand fully.” Paul has grasped the irony of what he’s asking. He has prayed that his readers will understand and experience the love of Christ—and its width, length, height, and depth—but knows they will never understand it fully. Even so, the promise behind the prayer is staggering: “that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (v. 19, NKJV).

Some translations rearrange Paul’s words because the literal translation is incomprehensible. We can “be filled with all the fullness of God”? Really? We’re finite and He’s infinite; “all” His fullness is too much for us. But the extravagant words of the original text are meant to stretch us, to drive us to our knees at the shocking suggestion that we are vessels not just of a small taste of God but of God in abundance. Though the promise seems too great, it accurately expresses God’s heart. He wants to fill us with all His fullness. Like a smitten lover or beaming parent, He longs to pour all of Himself into us. His heart overflows.

Soak in the depths of His love. It’s perhaps the most widely known yet least-experienced aspect of His character. Most Christian minds are amply aware of it, but few Christian hearts have let it really sink in. Spend some time letting it sink in—deeply and thoroughly. Yes, the promise is unimaginable, but imagine it anyway. The fullness of God’s life and power is in it.

Jesus, thank You for pouring Yourself out into me. Let Your love sink into my heart. I want to soak in it, savor it, and overflow with love back to You. Please increase my capacity to experience You.