Ephesians (W6D4) The Fullness of God's Love
Week 6. Thursday: The Fullness of God’s Love
PRAY: Ask God to speak to you from His Word.
READ: Ephesians 3:18-19
18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, 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.
UNDERSTAND: get a deeper understanding of the key words
Power (Greek: exischyō): to have full strength, to be eminently able
In this context this refers to having the full ability to grasp the love of Christ.
Being rooted and established in love results in greater understanding.
Grasp (Greek: katalambanō): to lay hold of, to take possession of
Wide (Greek: platos): breadth, great extent
The breadth of Christ’s love is shown in how He loves all kinds of people.
Refers back to Ephesians 2:11-18.
Long (Greek: mēkos): far reaching, goes beyond, never-ending
The length of Christ’s love goes from eternity past to eternity future.
Refers back to Ephesians 1:4-6, 13-14.
High (Greek: hypsos): exalted to the highest rank
The height of Christ’s love brings us to a high position.
Refers back to Ephesians 1:3; 2:6.
Deep (Greek: bathos): referring to extreme depth
The depth of Christ’s love reaches deep enough to save lowly sinners.
Refers back to Ephesians 2:1-3.
Filled to the Measure (Greek: plēroō): to cause to abound, to make complete
Fullness of God (Greek: plērōma theos): fullness of God’s character
Paul is praying for the Ephesians to be filled to the measure with the fullness of God’s character and characteristics.
This goes beyond God’s love and extends to God’s presence and power.
APPLY: What is this passage calling me to do?
Paul prays that the Ephesians would be able to grasp the love of Christ. Even though the love of Christ surpasses our understanding, we can still ask God to reveal it to us. Paul says that in grasping Christ’s love we will be filled with all the fullness of God. This means we should be filled with God’s character so much that it is displayed to others.
In what ways does your life display the character of God?
PRAY: Ask God to help you understand His character so you can be more like Him.
