Wednesday, March 4, 2009
An Ocean Of Ink
To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge. —Ephesians 3:19
The words of the hymn “The Love of God” capture in word pictures the breathtaking magnitude of divine love:
Could we with ink the ocean fillAnd were the skiesof parchment made,Were every stalk on earth a quillAnd every man a scribe by trade,To write the love of God aboveWould drain the ocean dry,Nor could the scrollcontain the wholeThough stretched from sky to sky.
These marvelous lyrics echo Paul’s response to the love of God. The apostle prayed that believers might “be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge” (Eph. 3:18-19). In reflecting on these verses about God’s love, some Bible scholars believe “width” refers to its worldwide embrace (John 3:16); “length,” its existence through all ages (Eph. 3:21); “depth,” its profound wisdom (Rom. 11:33); and “height,” its victory over sin opening the way to heaven (Eph. 4:8).
We are admonished to appreciate this amazing love. Yet as we expand our awareness of God’s love, we soon realize that its full measure is beyond our understanding. Even if the ocean were filled with ink, using it to write about the love of God would drain it dry. — Dennis Fisher
READ: Ephesians 3:14-19
God’s love cannot be explained—it can only be experienced.