The Word - Feb. 2, 2012 - Seeking The Fullness of God's Love

"That night God appeared to Solomon and said, 'What do you want?' Ask and I will give it to you!' Solomon replied to God, "Give me wisdom and knowledge to lead the people."

(2 Chronicles 1:7,10)

If God appeared to you and said: "What do you want? Ask and I shall Give You whatever you ask." WHAT WOULD YOU ASK FOR?

We remember this was the challenge Solomon was given. His answer was noble because he didn't ask for himself but for the sake of the children of Israel.

The New Testament points to one thing greater he might have asked if he had only known. We often think that wisdom and knowledge lead to the full and abundant life, but in Ephesians 3 we discover something greater is revealed; something much greater than wisdom and knowledge.

This is the love of God in Christ. Wisdom flows out of this love. Knowledge exudes from this love. If we seek wisdom and knowledge we are only gaining a part. You see, Solomon went astray with his wisdom. Knowledge easily leads to pride, but the love of Christ surpasses these things.

We might gain many things hoping to bring full meaning to life, but only one thing will suffice. These other things, a life partner, good jobs, wealth, relationships, activity, spiritual experiences, regardless of how great, will always fade away; but not so with the love of Christ. God made us for the purpose of being filled with His love, and only His love can fill our deepest longing.

We must be quick to understand that the promise of His love is not for some distant time, but is ours in the here and now; in the present experience of everyday living.

Many times we miss the goal and fail to understand the immensity of this guarantee from the Word of God; that we can really experience the fullness of His love. We seek every experience in the world, only to discover that only the love of our Heavenly Father is what we need to completely fill us. Too easily we become content with human love, and the things around us.

"May you have the power to understand, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of God Himself."