"[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!" Ephesians 3:19 ~ The Amplified Bible
When I had my first child, I had a wonderful doctor. She was very knowledgable of everything that was happening with my body and the development of the baby. She walked me step-by-step through each trimester and sympatheized with my lethargy and fatigue. One day I decided to ask if she had ever had a baby. Her response was “No.” I found that to be quite interesting. With my second child, I happened across this same doctor. When she stood up, I could tell she now had experience to go along with her years of knowledge. She was six months pregnant! Now, because of her first hand experience, a good doctor was now a better doctor!
Most people have heard the song, “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me.” This is the truth: Jesus does love us! However, the Apostle Paul prayed that we would know the love of Christ past mere knowledge. Paul wanted us to move past a general knowledge and intelligence of Christ’s love to having the experience of His unfailing love. Paul equates having the experience of God’s love with complete fulfillment. He prayed that we would know God with our hearts and not just our heads. He knew that the completeness, fulfillment and complete satisfaction comes with knowing God’s unconditional love.
How do we experience God’s love? The Apostle Paul says, first we must be strengthened inwardly by the Holy Spirit before Christ can come and dwell in our hearts by faith (v.16 &17). His love is so extreme; our inward man must be ‘prepped’ before we can receive it! The inward strengthening enables us to be rooted and grounded in His love and then ultimately be filled with the fullness of God. Even in all this, God’s love is ‘unsearchable, inexhaustible and is so amazing it is more than I can understand’ (Psalm 139:6). God will do whatever needs to be done, at whatever cost, so that we will see and be satisfied with His love and His love alone.
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I desire to experience God as fully as He will allow. To know Him intimately and not just know of Him. A good review can tell us how good a new resturant or movie is, but until we have had the experience ourselves we can't truely attest to that goodness. Father, I want to know your ways, not just your acts. Thank you ZOE for this meditation.
"[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!" Ephesians 3:19 ~ The Amplified Bible
Wow, this Scripture says it all! There is absolutely NOTHING that can compare to being "filled unto the fullness of Christ". That may be difficult to imagine for many people but I assure you it is a REAL experience and if I am allowed to use this analogy it is that sense of fullness that you might experience when you have eaten way too much ... except this is a different type of filling that leaves you wanting more. You feel full but not bloated or miserable. Every fiber of your being tingles with the presence of God. It is almost like an explosion. I truly desire to " become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]". My Lord, can you just imagine for a moment being completely "flooded" with God Himself! Hallelujah!!! Even tho we get to enjoy these ZOE moments the purpose of being filled is to become fully equipped, so that we may be appropriate vessels for His use ... for His glory. Being flooded with God Himself requires us to empty ourselves of everything that is not like him ... MAKE SOME ROOM!
Sis Debbie
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