Love without Boundaries

Our detour into 1Cor 13 fits surprisingly well with our look at Ephesians. Paul prays for the Ephesians in 3:17-20 that they may have the power to grasp the full scope of the love of Christ in all dimensions.

The thing is, in the past I have always interpreted that to be a grasping for one's self benefit. If only we could know Christ's love better, then how much better our walk with God would be. Sounds like a perfectly good prayer for Paul to pray.

But I am now persuaded that Paul had a bigger goal in mind. If we would only grasp Christ's love better, we would be better equipped in our mission. Such a grasping would challenge us of the limits and boundaries we have erected around Christ's love, calling us to go beyond them.

This fits with the trajectory of Ephesians I have already charted. Guder, in his 'Continuing Conversion of the Church' [1], claims we as Christians need this ongoing challenge. I agree with his claim.

Too often we think we know it all, and thus who needs what. These verses trash that, with Paul praying we grasp Christ's love better, and this love will surpass such knowledge. The boundaries we thought were correct, will have to come down.

[1] Guder, The Continuing Conversion of the Church, (Erdmans 2000)