Dive In

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses all knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:17b-19

Think about standing on the shores of a large body of water like a lake. You can see to the other side and get an idea of its size. You can take its temperature, and study the plants along its edges. You can talk about it and think about it and dream about it—all without ever getting wet.
But as long as you are standing on the shore, you have missed the essence of this lake, the water. You are not going to fully grasp its significance or strength until you get into the water, over your head.

The same can be said of the love of Christ. You can study it for years. You can take theology classes and skirt the surface of a Bible study. You can talk about it, look at it, and even dream about it—all without actually experiencing it. But to grasp the significance and strength of Jesus' love; to fully understand how his love can change your life, you've got to step off the shore and dive into the water of his love.

Only by diving headlong into a relationship with him will you truly begin to grasp how "wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." It surpasses knowledge; and it requires experience.

Dear God, I don't want to just stand on the shores of your love; instead, I want to experience the fullness of what it can do in my life. Thank you for providing a way for that to happen, through Jesus Christ. Help me each day to realize the significance of that relationship. And help me to show others that when they get off the shore and into the water, life will take on a new meaning and power. In Christ's name I pray, Amen.