He is Beyond All Measure

"that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 

may have the strength to comprehend with all the saints

what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge"

Ephesians 3: 17b-19a

One of my favorite things about Ally and my's honeymoon was that for the first time in several months, I was able to read for the sheer purpose of enjoyment. It was greatly tremendously refreshing to be able to read and not have it be for the purpose of school or work. One of the books I was able to read during our week long was John Bunyan's 'All Loves Excelling'. In it, Bunyan spends all 120 pages expounding on the above verse from Ephesians 3. His purpose in writing is to encourage believers with the simply unfathomable and infinitely wonderful love that Christ has for his people. Speaking of Ephesians 3:17-19, Bunyan writes this in the opening pages:

"They are here to be taken...to suggest unto us the unsearchable and infinite greatness of God; who is a breadth beyond all breadths; a length beyond all lengths; a depth beyond all depths; and a height beyond all heights, and that in all his attributes: He is an eternal being, an everlasting being, and in that respect he is beyond all measures, whether they be of breadth, or length, or depth, or height. In all his attributes he is beyond all measure: whether you measure by words, by thoughts, or by the most enlarged and exquisite apprehension; His greatness is unsearchable; His judgments are unsearchable (Job 5:9). He is infinite in wisdom. 'O! the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of our God! (Romans 11:33). 'If I speak of strength, behold, He is stronger' (Job 9:19). Yes, 'the thunder of his power, who can understand?' (Job 26:14) 'There is none holy as the Lord.' (1 Samuel 2:2), 'and his mercy is from everlasting to everlasting, upon those that fear him.' (Psalm 103:17) 

The greatness of God, of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is that, if rightly considered, will support the spirits of those of his people that are frighted by their adversaries. For here is a greatness against a greatness. Pharaoh was great, God was greater, more great in power, more great in wisdom, more great in every way for the help of his people. These words therefore, take in. The great God who in his immensity and infinite greatness is beyond all things."

John Bunyan, All Loves Excelling (1998), pg. 4-5. 

The main encouragements I gather from this passage are this:

1. God is infinitely great. In all his attributes, he is beyond measure. 
2. This infinitely great God who is beyond all measure, acts FOR his people. Meaning, if we have been reconciled to God, this infinite greatness is now on our behalf. No matter the adversary or circumstance we face, God is greater. What we have in God, is better and greater than anything the world can throw at us or offer us.  

If the infinitely great God of the universe has drawn close to me and now calls me his son, why would I trust in the strength of anything else. Why would I trust in my own strength when the strength of God is infinitely stronger? Why would I try to find my comfort in my bank account when I know the comfort God offers is infinitely better? Why would I look to find joy in professional success when I know the joy God gives is beyond all other joys? I am challenged by this passage to remember the infinite greatness of God, and how I must apply this everyday. This is the 'daily bread' that I truly need. 

Uncomfortable Grace

These words have spoken in a significant way to me over the past several weeks.

"So, if you are God's child, resist the temptation to doubt his goodness in the middle of your stress. It's time to stop thinking that our difficulty is a sign of his unfaithfulness and inattention. If you are God's child and you still recognize the battle of sin within, then those difficulties are sure signs of rescuing redemptive love. God isn't withholding his grace from you. No, you're experiencing uncomfortable grace, grace that's willing to break bones in order for your heart to be true. This grace is unwilling to give up. This grace will not turn its back. This grace will not accept the status quo. This grace will not compromise or grow cynical. God hasn't forgotten you. He loves you with real love, and he's giving you real grace. And he'll continue to do so until you're finally free of your propensity to wander away. Now that's real love."

-Paul Tripp, Whiter than Snow

Christ was Forsaken For Our Acceptance

"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land

until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour

Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 

'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' that is, 

'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'

Matthew 27:45-46

At the cross, for the first (and only) time in eternity, the Son experienced abandonment. Jesus called out to his Father, but got no answer. Jesus looked to his Father, but only saw his turned back. Jesus cried out to him, but received no comfort. Only absolute abandonment. The Son was forsaken. 

This is the grave, yet beautiful truth of Christ's substitution. Jesus experienced the pain of having the Father turn his back on him, so that we wouldn't have to.  Because Jesus turned to God and only saw the back of the Father, when we turn to the Father, all we experience is open arms. Whereas Jesus reached for the comfort of His father but received none, when we reach for the Father, we receive comfort. Though we were the ones who deserve absolute abandonment, Jesus' love is so great that he came to earth to experience the forsakenness we deserve, so that we would be united to Him. The Father turned his head away from Jesus so that he would never have to turn his head away from us. Jesus saw the Father's back; closed off and forsaken. We see the Father's face; open, and ready to embrace sinners who  turn to Him. 

The Knowledge of God's Providence

From the Heidelberg Catechism:

Q: How does the knowledge of God's creation and providence help us?


A: We can be patient when things go against us, 
          thankful when things go well,
          and for the future we can have good confidence
          in our faithful God and Father
          that nothing will separate us from his love.
          All creatures are so completely in his hand
          that without his will, they can neither move nor be moved.




If I'm being honest, I often fail to trust in God's providence. At times, my heart is restless rather than patient, and is marked by fear and insecurity  instead of confidence. Yet, for the Christian, we have every  reason to put our full trust in the providence and provisions of our Heavenly Father. The reason is,

"If God is for us, who can be against us?

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all,

how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?"

Romans 8:32

I need to be reminded of and take comfort in God's radical love. If God was willing to give his Son to rescue me, surely he will see me through until the end. Surely, I can trust him in my day to day activities. To trust in God's providence, we have to look no further than the cross. Our faithful Father will provide. He has in the past, he is now, and he will in the future. 

Privileges in Christ

From the Valley of Vision prayer book:

"How great are my privileges in Christ Jesus!

Without him I stand far off, a stranger, an outcast;

in him I draw near and touch his kingly sceptre.

Without him I dare not lift up my guilty eyes;

in him I gaze upon my Father-God and friend.

Without him I hide my lips in trembling shame;

in him I open my mouth in petition and praise.

Without him all is wrath and consuming fire;

in him all is love, and the repose of my soul. 

Without him is gaping hell below me, and eternal anguish;

in him its gates are barred to me be his precious blood.

Without him darkness spreads its horrors in front;

in him an eternity of glory is my boundless horizon.

Without him all within me is terror and dismay;

in him every accusation is charmed into joy and peace.

Without him all things external call for my condemnation;

in him they minister to my comfort

and are to be enjoyed with thanksgiving.

Praise be to thee for grace,

and for the unspeakable gift of Jesus."

The God of All Comfort

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,  

who comforts us in all our affliction"

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

I watched part of the West Virginia vs. Louisville basketball game today and was reminded of this incident from last season involving star player Da'Sean Butler and Coach Bob Huggins from West Virginia. This is but the slightest whisper of how great the Heavenly Father's affections are for His children. In life's most hurtful moments, in our deepest possible pain, Our Father is there. He never leaves our side. In all our afflictions, He comforts us. 

Waiting On God

"He does not faint or grow weary;

his understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the faint,

and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Even youths shall faint and be weary,

and young men shall fall exhausted;

but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40: 28-31

Here are a couple excerpts from a sermon delivered by Dan Orr at Immanuel Church in Nashville. The sermon was on Isaiah 40 and is straight gold. Here is the link to the full sermon, and his blog, Itsabeautifulgospel. I deeply admire Dan. God has used him in mighty ways to teach me about the Gospel. 

"To wait on something means to depend, hope, rely or to trust something. I suggest that your strength is entirely contingent upon the strength of the one or the what for whom you wait on. The amount of strength you have today, is completely related on the strength of the one you're waiting on. So, if you are waiting upon someone or something with no strength, you will grow faint. You will break down. If you are waiting upon God who is strong, you will be strong.

So, the reason that we are all weary this morning, all of us, is because we are waiting on false gods. We are waiting on things that don't have strength, and we are therefore depleted of our strength, because we are let down. Our weariness is the fruit of misplaced trust."

 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
   made by human hands. ¹⁶ They have mouths, but cannot speak,
   eyes, but cannot see. ¹⁷ They have ears, but cannot hear,
   nor is there breath in their mouths. ¹⁸ Those who make them will be like them,
   and so will all who trust in them.

Psalm 135: 15-18

What a great reminder of the insufficiency of idols. When we depend on our idols, when we trust in 'things' even the best of things, our strength will wither. We will grow weary. It is often good things that we look to for strength. It could be grades, family, relationships, sports, friends. These are great. But they will fail. They don't truly satisfy. They don't give everlasting strength. Only God provides that. Those who wait upon the LORD will not grow weary. Only God is strong. Only He is sufficient. May we wait upon God by gazing upon Him, drawing strength from the One who is everlasting, almighty, and gracious. 

What is Our Only Hope?

From the Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1

Question: What is your only comfort in life and death?


Answer: That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my Heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; indeed all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him.