Read Ephesians 3:14-19.

Deceptive ideas about God and His love as benign, spineless, insipid, and universally neutral are gaining momentum in the West like an avalanche. In reality, the love of God is active, even fierce. His love cost Him a colossal and incalculable price. The love of God displayed in the gift of Jesus Christ is astonishing and priceless. To equate it with the warm, fuzzy, and indifferent feelings of the “Love is love” mantra is a gross misunderstanding, a perversion, and, frankly, insulting.

When it comes to the disciples of Jesus, we must spend our lives attempting to comprehend the incomprehensible love of God and sharing its Truth. This is why Paul prayed that the Christians in Ephesus “may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18).

Right now, in this life, no matter how much we try to comprehend the love of God, we will only touch the surface. God’s love goes deeper still. In heaven, we will spend all eternity fully comprehending how wide, how long, how high, and how deep the love of God is.

Here and now, however, I want you to recognize three things about God’s love for us in Christ. First, His love is costly. The perfect Son of God, who never committed a sin, whose life was infinitely more valuable than all humanity put together, died for sinners. God gave Himself; there is nothing of greater value.

Second, His love was lavished on those who could never deserve it. If a spouse or a son or a daughter needed you, you would give them the breath in your lungs, wouldn’t you? But would you willingly lay down your life for someone who cursed and reviled you? The Bible says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Finally, God’s love culminates in immeasurable blessing. The apostle John wrote, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1). God doesn’t stop at merely saving sinners—He brings us into His family to make us co-heirs with His Son (see Romans 8:17). Then, He actually changes our nature so that we begin to bear a striking family resemblance (see 1 John 3:9): He makes us just like Jesus!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your astounding love. I pray that Your Spirit would empower me to understand it more and more each day and that I would be transformed by the joy and peace it brings. May I bless those around me with Your Truth delivered through an out-of-this-world love. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, . . .” (Ephesians 3:17-18).

Learn more in Dr. Michael Youssef’s sermon series Discipleship 101: WATCH NOW

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About The Author

Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Even before he was born, it is clear that God had a vision for Michael Youssef. His mother was in poor health when she became pregnant with Michael, and because his life was in danger at the time of birth, the doctor recommended terminating the pregnancy. An abortion was scheduled. But God intervened and sent the family pastor to reassure them that God was involved in this pregnancy. He told them not to be afraid and that the child would be "born to serve the Lord." Michael's parents accepted the pastor's message as a message from God and obeyed. His mother gave birth, and lived to see him give his life to the Lord at the age of sixteen.


Believing that God had called him out of Egypt, Michael sought an exit visa in a time in which no university student was allowed to have a passport or leave the country. God intervened again, and miraculously he managed to acquire a visa. He immigrated to Australia, where he studied at Moore Theological College in Sydney, was ordained as a pastor, and met Elizabeth who became his wife.


The Youssefs came to America in 1977, and in 1978 Michael received a master's degree in theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in California. Then he earned a doctorate in social anthropology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael served nearly ten years in the Haggai Institute, traveling around the world more than 32 times, teaching courses in evangelism and leadership. He rose to the position of Managing Director at the age of 31 years. The family settled in Atlanta, and in 1984, Michael became a citizen of the United States, making his dream of many years come true.


He founded The Church of The Apostles in 1987 with fewer than 40 adults with the mission of "Equipping the Saints and Searching for the Lost". The church has since grown to be a congregation of over 3,000 people today. This church has driven the international ministry of Leading the Way. While it is heard by millions at home and abroad, behind every message preached through radio waves, is the heart of a pastor, willing to nurture and care for these people. Clearly God has uniquely equipped Dr. Youssef to speak to a global audience. The path he has taken has given him an understanding and firm grasp of the Scriptures that transcend cultures. He preaches, teaches and calls with a sincere, based on the authority of the inerrant, inspired Word of God. With his personal knowledge of the Holy Land, its history and culture, Dr. Michael Youssef transmits life to listeners all over the world.



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