Dear Ones:
How deep can we go with Christ? What do we mean by going deep? There is a great old hymn written by S.T Francis which gives us some idea of what “depth” the Lord desires to take us, and what the nature of that depth is.
“O the deep, deep, love of Jesus! Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free; Rolling as a mighty ocean it its fulness over me: Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love; Leading onward, leading homeward, to my glorious rest above.”
The Apostle Paul, in his great prayer in Ephesians 3, prays for the Ephesian church in this manner: “…that He (the Father) would grant you…to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man…that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith…being rooted and grounded in love, …to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be FILLED with all the fulness of God.” (v. 16-19) He goes on to declare that along these lines, and with this objective before him in prayer, “NOW, unto Him that is able to do the exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…according to the power that workes in us.” (v.20) The point is this. True depth, directional and functional depth, is in the knowledge of the love of God, and the experience of that love…loving God, and loving others. We abide in His love, that we might in turn truly love…this is Christ dwelling in the heart by faith. How far can God take us, and to what depths of this “deep, deep love?” As far as we are willing to pray and believe Him.
It was Mme. Booth-Clibborn who wrote a tremendous hymn in French on this subject. I shall try to translate: “Lord, that which I reclaim, it is this rich gift of love! May this celestial flame burn in me night and day! This love, so strong, so tender, …love which endures all, which will never defend itself, ready to suffer until the end. Before this vast (sea of) suffering, that extends itself from day-to-day, there must be an immense remedy, there must be an immense love.”
Sometimes in life, we seem to reach a plateau. We do not seem to be gaining ground, and we are apt to be discouraged as there seems to be no breakthrough. It may not be that we need to aim “higher” at this point, but go deeper, deeper into the love of God. May we trust the Father to strengthen us to believe Him, to live in this blessed union with Christ, believing Him to fill us with this love of God, this deep, deep love of Jesus. If indeed the measure of our usefulness is compassion, most certainly the measure of our fruitfulness will be in knowing the love of God, and giving that love to others.
Love, Dad