Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)."
Text: Ephesians 2:4-5
WHAT IS THE CAPACITY OF MAN’S LOVE?
Much has been written about parental love. Romantic love has been given so much exposure by the film industry that it has taken on unreal properties. Could a person really love a sinful, morally and spiritually corrupt person, such as described by the apostle Paul? It is highly unlikely that man’s capacity for love is that large. If man’s capacity for love is that great, there would be fewer divorces, and fewer dysfunctional families. The blight of countless broken homes testifies to the fact that man’s capacity to love is far more limited than we dare to admit.
THE CAPACITY OF GOD’S LOVE
Paul’s description of God’s love is simple and straightforward. He portrays it as “great love”. How may we appreciate what he sought to communicate about God’s love in this text? Three features may be highlighted:-
1. Defining the word “love” (“agape”)
a) The general and consistent word that is used to describe God’s love for man.
b) Appreciated in context
i) Against the backdrop of the sinful state of man.
ii) Despite man’s obvious sinful state, God is able to relate to man with “great love”.
2. “With which He loved us”
a) This phrase speaks of love as an action taken by God.
b) We are the recipients of His love.
c) He loved us even before we knew Him (Cf. Ephesians 1:4).
d) He loved us despite knowing all about our sinfulness (Cf. Ephesians 2:1-4).
e) Love is no mere feeling where God is concerned.
3. “Because of…”
a) The basis of God’s rich mercy extended to sinful mankind is to be traced to His great love.
b) Love is a powerful causative factor in God’s economy.
A FRESH APPRECIATION OF GOD’S LOVE
Paul was never tired of speaking about God’s love. The reason was obvious. He had been wonderfully transformed by the wondrous love of God. He could not but proclaim God’s glorious love.