November 15, 2024 -- Ephesians 3:13-19 -- Can God really, I mean truly, love me?
/So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:13-19 ESV
Look at what is being balanced here. At verse 13 Paul asks the Ephesians, the people receiving this letter of encouragement, not to be discouraged or lose hope because of what he is suffering for them. On the other side of the balance he is pointing out to them the weight of God’s incredible, unstoppable love.
It is easy to lose heart, that is, to give up, when we’re following Jesus. One reason is when we suffer, and we begin to think of all our sins, how bad they are, and the how bad we are. Then the next step is so easy, we ask the question why would God ever love me? There is nothing worthy in me for His love to latch onto. I graphically and painfully know all my own failures, and there are lots of them I’ve even forgotten. Now more loudly and persistently the nagging question rages how could God ever love me?
Paul’s prayer found here in today’s text is quoted lots of times in the Christian community because believers realize he modeled in this prayer the need struggling Christians have for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is stronger than fears, stronger than guilt, stronger than doubts, stronger than any power which would cause the believer to fall away from the love of God. Paul modeled a prayer which asked that believers be strengthened by the Holy Spirit so they can understand a spiritual truth which is not available to human reason alone.
God’s love is anchored in the accomplished work of Jesus Christ. I don’t have to try and hang on to God’s love like a man who’s fallen and is holding onto the edge of a cliff with fingers that are losing their grip and slipping. God’s love for you and for me is rock-solid, firm in the accomplished work of Jesus Christ. Your faith may be stronger some days but weak and weaker many more days, but dearly loved children of the Father it is not the strength of your faith that wins the day. It is Him in Whom you have placed your faith Who wins the day. Jesus is All-Mighty in power. His Spirit is the Person living in You Who is the conduit of Jesus power. God’s love is yours in Christ and it is deep, true and real.
The fact is, the Father in heaven knows the absolute worst there is to know about you and knew unless His love was set on you in Christ, you’d be lost to the darkness of the Devil’s clutches and headed for hell. The fact is the Father provided the universe’s ultimate power to bring you to Himself: that accomplished work of Jesus. He sealed Jesus’s power in you by the Holy Spirit. You are loved.
Now, on dark days and times when you wonder can God love me? Look to this text and preach it to your soul by reading it over and over again. You are God’s and there is no power in heaven, on earth, in the oceans or out there in the furthest reaches of the unknown cosmos that can snatch you away from there. Be assured of His love. And so assured, pray to Him with thanks. Sing hymns and songs and psalms to God, not because He needs it, but because these are the means by which God will drive the assurance of His love deeper into your heart, farther into your mind and thus warm your soul which easily grows cold with unwarranted fears.
Prayer
Father in heaven, You already know the rebellious sinfulness of my heart and the traumas that resulted from the waves of sin and louder than these is the testimony of Your word is that You love me. It is almost too hard to take hold on and really believe. In the roller coaster ride of my faith, lead me in the Truth that Your love is not based on me, but on the accomplished work of Jesus. As You’ve promised, seal that love in me by Your Spirit. On my strongest days, let me sing praises to You and bless You. On my weakest days, hold me in the embrace of Your love until the storms of doubt and the waves of shame lose their power. Every day, add to my faith, my hope and my love, bit by bit, so that I will respond to Your love with greater assurance and confidence. Amen.
https://youtu.be/a91_3VYRiZo?si=-4EgrvYcub6gPx-S Fill Thou My Life
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