Dear Sisters in the Lord,
This week's school subjects have been fantastic, as well as last weeks! I would like to share with you a few points the Lord has been teaching me, specifically on the depths of Christ's love! (These points were shared with me through four of John Piper's series of messages entitled
The Depth of Christ's Love)
“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).
Paul’s prayer is that we would be rooted and grounded in Christ’s love, so we can comprehend the magnitude of its breadth, and length, and depth, and height. It is God’s plan for us to come to faith by seeing Christ’s love through the word of those who knew Him. Through the Bible, which is the Word, I see four ways the dimensions of Christ’s love is revealed.
First, the greatness of someone’s love is shown by how much it cost them. The more someone sacrifices something to love you, the deeper the love. If that someone sacrifices their life, the love is the deepest of all. Christ’s love was the greatest. He gave His precious life out of love for you and me.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).The depths of Christ’s love can also be revealed by the undeserving objects. Someone’s depth of love is shown through how undeserving we are of that love. For instance, if someone treated me well, did only kind things to me, and never spoke ill of me, it would be easy to love them in return. However, if someone shunned, disdained me, and turned their back on me, how could I love them? The Word of God says, “
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:5-8). What depth of love Jesus Christ has for me, and how undeserving I am of it.
Also, we all know the depths of someone’s love by the great benefits we receive by being loved by them. John Piper writes this, “If we are helped to pass an exam, we will feel loved in one way. If we are helped to get a job, we will feel love another way. If we are helped to escape from an oppressive captivity and given freedom for the rest of our life, we will feel loved another way. And if we are rescued from eternal torment and given a place in the presence of God with fullness of joy and pleasures for evermore, we will know a depth of love that surpasses all others.”
[1] Not only does God’s love demonstrate the cost of His Son and love of His enemies, but amazingly, His love gives us the great benefits of being His child.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not” (I John 3:1). God didn’t stop His love by only giving me life from death. He has drawn me into His family making me a daughter and sharing with me all the benefits of the inheritance of His family, through Jesus Christ my Lord!
Fourth, the depth of Christ’s love is demonstrated with freedom and joy. I know of someone’s love to me by the freedom they give it. If a person is obligated to be kind to me, not because they want to love me, I do not feel loved by them. On the other hand, if someone delights to be with me, and gives to my needs out of that delight, I will feel enormously loved. That is the depth of Christ’s love! He longs and takes joy in loving me. Jesus said, “
No one take my life from me, I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:18).
The beautiful song written by Fredrick Lehman beautifully displays the love of God:
The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell; It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair, bowed down with care. God gave his Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled, and pardoned from this sin.
O love of God how rich and pure! how measureless and strong!
It shall forever more endure. The saint's and angels song![2] O, yes, the love of God is rich and pure. It will last forever! These four ways are just a taste of the dimensions of Christ’s love to me! My heart’s prayer is to be rooted and grounded in this love so deeply that I can experience more of the height and depth and length and breadth of His love; therefore, becoming like Him in that magnificent love. My prayer is that you will be able to experience the magnitude of His love as well!
Tenderly Loved,
Darleen
[1] John Piper, “The Depths of Christ’s Love: It’s Costs,” The Greatest of These is Love, March 26, 1995,
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