Ephesians 3:17-21

“To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” V. 19.

This is possibly one of the strongest and most glorious words in the entire Scriptures. Of course it is true, just as all the other words of Scripture.

The love of Christ surpasses all knowledge. This must mean that it can be compared to a whole ocean in breadth, length, and depth, and that it contains so unbelievably much goodness that is so deep that no matter how much we have come to know it—no matter how much light we have received about it—it contains even much more!

Only by knowing and tasting this love of Christ can we—through faith—be filled with all the fullness of God. But through it, it can happen, and it does happen!

This must necessarily mean the following: an abundance of divine love without variation or shadow of turning, without exception, under all kinds of circumstances toward all kinds of people! It also means that I gain a resounding victory over all possible kinds of conscious sins, besides being in constant rest in God.

This in turn means quite simply that I cannot do anything else but love. Then loving and serving is all I think about. Then I see this as true and everlasting gain and everything else as eternal loss. For this reason, it is no longer difficult to love everyone. Doing the opposite will then be meaningless! As a result of this new nature (because that is what it is), suffering unjustly becomes as natural as breathing. Loving is then a necessity of life for us! God is love. Then we also love to an ever increasing measure because it is our calling to be like Him.

Then it is true, godly delight for us to love everyone; to forgive every single person seven times seventy; to hope all things, believe all things, to bear everything that everyone and anyone says and does and neglects to say and do; to endure everything even though it might last ever so long; to requite evil with good without exception—so that the opposite of it is unthinkable.

We read, “So that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.” Blessed is everyone who receives grace to believe such a word!

Concerning living faith, one German Bible translation reads as follows: “And he knew most certainly.” Rom. 4:21. Just imagine knowing something like that “most certainly.” Then it will also happen, because it is true!

According to the parables about the kingdom of God—the kingdom that is within us—it has an extremely small, almost invisible beginning; on the other hand, it has a tremendous possibility for growth. And the goal is unspeakably high, holy, and glorious.

Natural talents, human reasoning, and feelings are of absolutely no value in this area. The only thing that counts is a simple, living faith in all the words of life in the New Testament. The result of that will be something of value. Hallelujah!