Haley In Paul's Letter to the Ephesians we find an outline of the Church's position in Christ, sort of a list of the great benefits that come with the love relationship that Christ has established with us. Paul then prays in Chapter 3 that the Church would be "rooted and grounded" in that love and would be able to comprehend what is the "breadth, and length, and depth, and height" of the love of Christ.

To the modern reader this sounds more like the measurements of a building, or some other tangible item, and we only think of love as being one dimensional. God either loves us or He doesn't. But what Paul describes is a four dimensional love. Let's look closer at these dimensions.

Breadth (sometimes translated "width") = spacious, room for everybody. This includes Jews and Gentiles, male and female, bond and free. There are no space limitations, no overbooking.

Length (from the Greek word makros) = reaching into eternity. God's love is not temporal, it is not something that is bound by our understanding of time. God's love is not only timeless for us but timeless for past and future generations. God's love takes into consideration all of mankind for all eternity.

Depth = penetration. God's love can soften the hardest of hearts, can work in the heart of the atheist, the wayward husband, and the rebellious child. Knowing this we should never assume that anyone is beyond redemption.

Height = in the Greek a word meaning "a summit top". Love at its peak is the standard, constant height of God's love. God didn't grow to love you. He doesn't love you more today than yesterday. His love is full and constant.

When God's Word says in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life," this is the kind of love it's talking about. It's a love that requires sacrifice. But read on! In Chapter Five of Ephesians, we are encouraged to"Be followers (imitators) of God, as dear children." God wants us to imitate His love. Can you imagine that? How are we supposed to imitate this four dimensional love that is beyond our knowledge or understanding?

The truth is, we can't. Not unless we have experienced the fullness of God's love within our own lives. Only then can we understand what it means to have Christ living in us. And only then will His love flow out of us to the world around us.

For contact information for this God of Love and information about becoming His child, see the Book of John in your Bible. It's not too late for a heart change!

Eric Haley is pastor at Calvary Chapel.