The Greatest Gifts預覽

THE GIFT OF KNOWING HOW MUCH CHRIST LOVES US

Parents and their younger children often play the “How Much Love?” game. You know how it goes. It usually starts with Mom or Dad looking at their child and saying, “I love you.” And the child looks up with big inquiring eyes, “How much do you love me?” The game continues with the parent comparing the amount of their love with the number of stars in the sky, grains of sand on the beach, or the favorite in our home “to the moon and back.” In the Disney movie, Tangled, Rapunzel’s stepmother says, “I love you very much, dear.” To which Rapunzel replies: “I love you more.” And to finish the game, her mother says, “I love you most.”

In Ephesians 3, Paul suggests Christ's love for us is like a box with unlimited proportions.

I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love -- how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is. Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:18-19, NCV).

It is an amount of love that you just cannot get your hands around. It is reminiscent of Romans 8:35, where Paul asks, “Who can separate us from the love of Christ?” Then he gives us the answer a few verses later in a long list that includes “nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39, NASB).

How much does Christ love us? He loves us more! He loves us most. He loves us bigger than the biggest box.

If Disney’s Buzz Lightyear was to answer the question, he would say, “to infinity and beyond ...” That still would not be a box that could contain God’s love.

That’s an awesome, incredible gift!

So, open your arms wide -- as wide as Jesus opened His for you on the cross -- and receive today’s gift, the Gift of knowing how much Christ loves you!

PRAYER

Father God, thank you for loving me with an immeasurable amount of love. May I remember today, and every day, especially when I’m not feeling loved, that you love me more than I can comprehend. Help me receive your great love today! In Jesus’ name. Amen.