Message summary: Today we encourage you to contemplate the marvelous four dimensional love of God.

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“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:14-21).

I'm sure that many of you can recall situations where you want to reach out to one who is hurting. They're in the deep pangs of despair and though you pray for that dear soul, it leaves you feeling inadequate when trying to comfort and reassure them with your words.

One of the saddest expressions we ever received was that of a desperate man who once wrote to us, “No one has ever told me they love me”.

It was from a troubled soul who came across our website. He wrote, “I am 50 and have never felt genuine love. Cold, empty and miserable now.” A failed suicide attempt left him even worse off than before he tried to end his misery.

The lack of love in one’s life can lead that person to take desperate measures. Tragically, it is certainly not the cure, and it leads to more tragedy and unending grief for those left behind. But there are many others whose desperate search leads them to the Bible where God’s love for those He created is thoroughly revealed. And it is there they find hope, guidance, and peace.

Yesterday we sang a song that has lyrics reminding us of the love of God.

This line is likely based on our daily text and the four dimensional love of Christ.  That you "may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge".

In Ephesians 3:14-21 the Apostle Paul offers a written prayer for the Ephesian believers and, as part of the Scriptures, this prayer is intended for each of us. It’s not your typical prayer asking for a blanket blessing, but it’s a rich exultation of the character of God. Paul also makes a plea that his readers might actually grasp this truth. It’s a prayer bursting with deep, rich meaning that begs further examination. But due to our commitment to brevity we’ll take just one phrase from the prayer and highlight it in our message today.

Paul prays that we "may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ".  Any attempt to comprehend these four dimensions can lead to a form of mental exhaustion! In fact any attempt to describe the infinite God or any of His eternal attributes is woefully and ultimately inadequate. No matter the illustration, it is bound to understate the majesty of God, but can still be inspiring and helpful as long as we understand this.

Henry Morris observes, “The love of Christ is thus four-dimensional, with ‘depth’ and ‘height’ considered as separate dimensions. He asserts this suggests the time dimension. “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love,” God says, “Therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

Another song that expresses this truth is "Give Me Jesus"

We challenge each of you to walk by faith being fully conscious of God’s love. Jesus loves you, He loves each one of us today and everyday with an everlasting, redemptive love. He’s always in the process of working things out for our good even though the “thing” we now see and experience may seem so undesirable and even unfair. God always has “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Today we encourage you to contemplate the marvelous four dimensional love of God. We won’t fully grasp it on this side because it’s vast and beyond measure, but we can express thanks to God that it empowers us each day of our lives, especially as we consider that we are recipients of the highest, purest form of love made available to His creation.

Be encouraged today!  Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber