6 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (NIV) Ephesians 3:16-19
This is an intercessory prayer of Paul for believers. Christ indwells in us as the Spirit strengthens our inner man. As a result, we should be rooted and grounded in love - the self-giving, unconditional, sacrificial love, even to one’s enemy. Root and foundations play a key role in the sustenance of a tree and building respectively. If root or foundation does not go down, the tree or building will not go up tall. If the root and foundations are not strong, storms will destroy them. The foundation and root of Christian life is love. You will not grow beyond the way we are able to love others with agape love. As Christ indwells in us, we would grasp how wide, long, high and deep the love of Christ. This shows the vastness of Christ’s love. Phrase “love that surpasses knowledge” means love of God is so great that one can never know it fully. As we grow in this love, fullness of God will fill us in greater measure.
In sum, we need to pray to grow in three areas:
1. Spirit may come and strengthen our inner man, so that Christ’s indwelling presence may increase in us.
2. If Christ indwells in us, we should grow in love.
3. As we grow in love, we will receive fullness of Christ.
Please take little time and think how you are growing in these three areas.