Grasping God's Love

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV)

I once heard of a young woman who, while injured and being cared for, cried out that the people shouldn’t bother, that she was not worth the trouble.  There are so many like her, people who think they are worthless, who loathe their very existence, and wish they were either dead or could become someone else.  This self-hatred leads them into prisons of addictions, bad relationships, violence, and clinical depression.  

If only they knew and could imagine how much Jesus loves them, then they could be set free.  But this can only happen by the power of God and the openness of a human heart.  That is why prayer is essential to reaching those around us who hate themselves.  

I know a man who had been addicted to drugs for many years.  He came to know Jesus, gave his life to Him, and has been clean ever since.  A co-worker, hearing his story, observed it must have taken a lot of willpower to get off drugs.  He corrected her, saying he had tried his own willpower for too long.  He said it was only the power of Jesus that finally helped him overcome his addiction. 

We cannot will our way out of sin.  Nor can those who hate themselves be convinced they are loved through self-help.  This is a spiritual battle that can only be won through spiritual power.  

Are there those you know who are imprisoned by their own self-hatred? Then today begin to pray this prayer of Paul.  God’s love for them is immeasurable, but it will take the power of God at work in their hearts in order for them to grasp it. 

© Jim Musser 2014