Verse of the Day 9/7

Ephesians 3:17-18  May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, ¹⁸ That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];    Amplified Bible (AMP)

We've considered and have been challenged from God's Word for the last couple of days to "be bold" and "be strong".  Today's verse continues in that theme.  We see the words "be strong" in today's verses.  Some translations say be strengthened, which gives you more of the idea that it is an ongoing or continual process.  The Amplified also calls and challenges us to "be rooted", rooted and founded securely on love.

 

James Smith writes," The love of Christ is an infinite love --its heights and depths, its breadths and lengths--surpass our knowledge! The whole of His nature and perfections are thrown into His love, therefore He is said to BE LOVE. He cannot love His people more than He does--nor will He love them less! Until we can comprehend infinity and measure eternity--we cannot know the love of Christ to perfection." 

If we are to love, truly love, we need to have a grasp of the breadth, length, height and depth of His love.  If we have this we can do this because He is with us and gives us "inner reinforcement" (see Phillips translation below).  I am reminded of a chorus that I believe that we sang at Promise Keepers years ago.

 

Be bold, be strong
For the Lord your God is with you.
Be bold, be strong,
For the Lord your God is with you.
I am not afraid,
I am not dismayed,
Because I'm walking in faith and victory,
Come on and walk in faith and victory,
For the Lord your God is with you.

 

Blessings,
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com

 

Ephesians 3:14-19  J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

I pray that you may know God's power in practice

^14-19 When I think of the greatness of this great plan I fall on my knees before God the Father (from whom all fatherhood, earthly or heavenly, derives its name), and I pray that out of the glorious richness of his resources he will enable you to know the strength of the spirit's inner re-inforcement—that Christ may actually live in your hearts by your faith. And I pray that you, firmly fixed in love yourselves, may be able to grasp (with all Christians) how wide and deep and long and high is the love of Christ—and to know for yourselves that love so far beyond our comprehension. May you be filled though all your being with God himself!