14.As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming ;
15.but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
16.from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
I like this passage because it is talks about how the Christian belongs to a family, and it continues the theme of the greatness of the love of Christ. It also has to do with how we live our lives as Christians.
There is a beautiful progression in these verses. At first, Paul describes Christians as children, tossed about and blown every which way by differing thoughts and arguments over doctrine and deceptions. But, by the powerful love of Christ, we can move on from confusion to certainty. As we speak the truth of Christ in the love of Christ, we will grow together in unity and mature in ministry. And we are always growing into Christ, our head. Everything we need for life in the body is found in Christ. He is the One who is full of grace and truth. He is the One who enables us to speak the truth in love. He is the One who supplies the body and causes its growth in love.
The love of Christ is the foundation for the change in nature we experience as Christians. In Ephesians 4:1-13, just before this passage, Paul is describing the characteristics and gifts of the Christian. Just after this passage, Paul says that because we are no longer children and we are being built up as one body in the love of Christ, we should no longer live our lives according to the old nature.
Showing posts with label Ephesians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ephesians. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Ephesians 3:17-19
17.so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith ; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18.may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19.and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
At the church I went to in high school, this prayer of Paul’s was a very special passage. I remember standing and reading it together as a congregation and reflecting on the greatness of our God.
I am in awe of the picture Paul presents here of the love of Christ. He says we are rooted and grounded in the love of Christ. This sounds like a starting point. But Paul wants us not only to know that we are rooted, but to go on to discover the vast greatness of the love of Christ. The expressions he uses actually remind me of a plant. A seed is planted and it develops roots and grows. It is rooted and grounded in love. But this is not all- the plant grows. It has breadth, length, height, and depth. For breadth I imagine the magnificent oak tree with huge branches that spread out in every direction. It offers shelter beneath its branches, and cool shade from the heat of the sun. For length, I imagine the vine that twines and climbs, putting out beautiful flowers and offering delicious fruit. For height, I imagine the awesome redwoods, reaching higher than it seems possible. And for depth, I envision the massive and deep root systems that give strength and nourishment to the tree. The love of Christ is all of this to us and more; much more than I can imagine!
Not only does Christ plant us and grow us in His love, He gives us the life-long adventure of comprehending this love which goes beyond knowledge. This is the love that is at the root of everything we pursue- the only love that can fill us up to “all the fullness of God.”
When I think of this love, it reminds me of what a wonderful gift we have to share with each other, with the world, and especially with those who do not know Christ. I pray that this love is what they would see when the look at me.
18.may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19.and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
At the church I went to in high school, this prayer of Paul’s was a very special passage. I remember standing and reading it together as a congregation and reflecting on the greatness of our God.
I am in awe of the picture Paul presents here of the love of Christ. He says we are rooted and grounded in the love of Christ. This sounds like a starting point. But Paul wants us not only to know that we are rooted, but to go on to discover the vast greatness of the love of Christ. The expressions he uses actually remind me of a plant. A seed is planted and it develops roots and grows. It is rooted and grounded in love. But this is not all- the plant grows. It has breadth, length, height, and depth. For breadth I imagine the magnificent oak tree with huge branches that spread out in every direction. It offers shelter beneath its branches, and cool shade from the heat of the sun. For length, I imagine the vine that twines and climbs, putting out beautiful flowers and offering delicious fruit. For height, I imagine the awesome redwoods, reaching higher than it seems possible. And for depth, I envision the massive and deep root systems that give strength and nourishment to the tree. The love of Christ is all of this to us and more; much more than I can imagine!
Not only does Christ plant us and grow us in His love, He gives us the life-long adventure of comprehending this love which goes beyond knowledge. This is the love that is at the root of everything we pursue- the only love that can fill us up to “all the fullness of God.”
When I think of this love, it reminds me of what a wonderful gift we have to share with each other, with the world, and especially with those who do not know Christ. I pray that this love is what they would see when the look at me.
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