More Than We Know

Most of us like to try and figure everything out. But there are some things that are beyond our mental understanding. God’s love in Christ is one of those things. It’s more than we know, but it is real and healing and makes life worth living.

Paul expressed God’s desire for us in his letter to several churches, beginning at Ephesus.

Ephesians 3:17:
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love.

Christ will dwell in our hearts by God’s spirit within us when we have the faith of Jesus Christ. We get that faith when we believe that Jesus is our risen Lord [Romans 10:9,10]. Then we are “rooted” like a tree and “grounded” like the foundation of a building. What gives us that stability? The love of Christ.

Ephesians 3:18,19:
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

We can understand with other born-again saints how wide, long, deep, and high our lives can be. We do that by “knowing” the love Christ which is more than we can know. This isn’t just head knowledge. This is spiritual love in all its fullness.

Jesus reminded his disciples of God’s two great commandments from the Old Testament.

Mark 12:30,31:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

But he brought a new commandment and a new love that was even bigger than loving God and our neighbor with all that our body and mind could allow. This was a spiritual love.

John 13:34,35:
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Our commandment from the Lord Jesus is to love each other the way he loved. He showed us how. He always did the Father’s will and walked by the spirit. He obeyed His Father. That is love. How can someone know that you are truly Jesus’ disciple? If you love as he loved.

John 15:9-12:
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Jesus spoke these words shortly before his death. He was preparing his followers to continue the great work and movement he started while on earth. Now he encouraged them to walk by the Father’s guidance and remain in His love. That is spiritual, not just mental. Then we aren’t only “happy” if things go well, we have true joy remaining in us—and it is as full as joy can get! We can love each other as Christ loved us.

I John 2:8-10:
Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

Here is Jesus’ new commandment written once again. It is true and based on God’s light in Christ. We don’t carry hate or anger or animosity toward a brother or sister. That is stumbling in the dark paths the Devil designs for us to follow. Instead, we walk with spiritual love and remain in the light. Then we can walk safely and surely by the spirit God gives us with the new birth.

Romans 5:5:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy spirit which is given unto us.

We are never disappointed when we trust in God and His Son. Our hope of Christ’s return is steadfast and sure. And God’s love is poured out in our hearts because God dwells in us. We are a spiritual Temple as each member makes up the living, real body of Christ! Can we fully understand the love we have? No. But, can we be filled with that love to spiritually overcome our adversary the Devil? Has God equipped us to love and tenderly care for each other? Absolutely!

Colossians 3:13-15:
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity [God’s love to us in Christ], which is the bond of perfectness.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

I make plenty of mistakes every day. My wife is amazing in how she forgives me. She has God’s love and is able to “move on” with a clean and renewed joy, despite my mistakes. When we both walk in love, no matter our imperfections, we see the peace of God “umpire” in our hearts so that we make sound, godly decisions. We are called in “one body” as Christian believers. We can forgive and live together despite our differences. That is especially true in marriage. And we are THANKFUL!

II Timothy 1:13:
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

One way to live faithfully for the Father and to serve our Lord Jesus Christ is to hold on to God’s words. We have the written scriptures, God’s still small voice within, and the advice and encouragement of other believers to guide us. Our faith and love are in Christ Jesus. That love is spiritual and lasts forever [I Corinthians 13:8]. Let’s obey Christ’s new commandment each day, as we walk in his love and obey God’s spirit within.