Wednesday 19 February 2014

To know the unknowable

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. - Ephesians .18-19

We sing a song at Kids Klub pretty regularly. I like it. It goes like this:

Jesus' love is very wonderful
Jesus' love is very wonderful
Jesus' love is very wonderful
Oh wonderful love. 

So high you can't get over it
So low you can't get under it
So wide you can't get 'round it
Oh wonderful love.

I love that song because I think it really captures this passage. Paul's prayer is that the readers would grasp how broad and long and deep and high the love of God is. The little children's chorus is a good reminder, but the great old hymn says it beautifully. The love of God is too great for us to ever really express. 

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.

The love of God is beyond our knowing - but that should't stop us from striving for it. 

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