Tag: dimensions

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

More or less: a different kind of math

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Valentina Giarre on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Ephesians 3.

“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 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, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:17-19).

I measure lots of things: the inseam of my pants, 3-1/2 cups of flour for a batch of sugar cookies, 1/3 c. of food for the little dog, the weight of a dumbbell, how much time to drive to a destination, the area of a rug, the brightness of a lightbulb, days until Christmas (lol), how long I slept, and how many steps I took today.

Churches measure lots of things, too. Leaders track worship attendance, offerings, membership numbers to track progress, plan programs, and strategize ministry.

One of Paul’s prayers for the believers in Ephesus is that they would have the power to grasp the dimensions of Christ’s love, a measurement that goes far beyond mere knowledge (numbers).

We miscalculate those dimensions. Someone has wandered too far away from God’s care. The bar to please God is as low as our best efforts. He doesn’t have time to care about our down days, so we have to pull ourselves out of a funk. His promises are out of reach.

The truth is much different. No one is beyond God’s reach. The bar of righteousness is way over our heads. He’s really close, right there with us on our worst days. His promises aren’t far away at all, lodged in our hearts. We underestimate our sinfulness. We underestimate his grace, too.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

The Dimensions of God’s Love: you’re going to need a box

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the bible” devotion from Psalm 103.

“It looked bigger in the picture.”

Ever order something online, only to find it’s much smaller than you expected it to be? Could be clothes, a tool, or a toy. I have to make sure I read the specs before I buy something.

Pictures of short-term rentals make homes look palatial. When I arrive, though, everything looks so small. Whoever took those pictures knew exactly what they were doing. They knew just the right angles to magnify every bedroom, bathroom, closet, and living area.

It’s just the opposite with God. We tend to underestimate the dimensions of his steadfast love, or mercy. The words of Psalm 103 blow the roof off our meager expectations.

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (Psalm 103:8)

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him. (Psalm 103:11)

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him. (Psalm 103:17)

The Lord has an abundance of steadfast love, more than enough to go around, enough for seconds and even thirds. That same steadfast love keeps going up and up and up, far beyond the highest floor of the worlds tallest building. And if that’s not enough, his steadfast love lasts forever. It’s the ultimate bottomless cup of whatever.

Before you order the salad in a restaurant, ask how big they are. They’re often enough to feed both of you, with leftovers to take home.

Check out that breakfast platter coming out of the kitchen. Look at the size of those pancakes! Maybe we should split an order.

And make sure you consider the dimensions of God’s amazing steadfast love. Yeah, you’re going to need at least one take-home box.