Measurement is very important. In our world, we have established standards of measurement: time, distance, height, width, and depth. If you are building a house, baking a cake, sending a package, keeping time, or making a purchase; you will be calculating a standard of measurement or worth.
Surveyors to measure horizontal and vertical angles use a theodolite. In its modern form it consists of a telescope mounted to swivel both horizontally and vertically. You know one of those “thingy’s” or “doohickeys”. Surveyors use the theodolite to:
- Update boundary lines, make precise measurements preparing sites for construction, and so that legal disputes are prevented.
- Provide data relevant to the shape and contour of the Earth’s surface for engineering, mapmaking, and construction projects.
- They can even do 3D imaging using special equipment.
Measurement is used in everything we do in one form or another. Every time we ask, “how much?” or “when?”, we are making a calculation on a measurable amount of something. How much do I owe you? How much do you love me? How much time will it take?
How do we measure God’s love? We don’t really have a whole lot to go on in that department because it’s spiritual. It’s based on faith. It’s something that we can’t see or touch. So, where do we go to find out “how much God loves us”? The Bible. It’s really the only resource we have for understanding who God is and how much He loves us.
Let’s take John 3:16, one of the most popular Bible verses. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (NIV)
What is key word of measurement in this verse? How much does God love us? God loves us “SO” much that He was willing to give something of incredible VALUE, His son. Value is closely associated with other words of measurement like worth, estimate, profit, and price.
The Bible says,
- Psalm 23:1,5 “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want….my cup runneth over”
- Psalm 108:4 “God’s love is higher than the heavens”
- Psalm 103:17 “God’s love is from everlasting to everlasting.”
- Psalm 103:1 “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
God’s love is IMMEASURABLE. It’s TOO BIG to measure. God’s standard of measurement has no limitations.
“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 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, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:17-21 NIV
This passage is filled with words of measurement. God’s love surpasses all knowledge and understanding. We can’t measure it’s width, length, height, or depth. God’s love is immeasurably more that we can ask or imagine. So, if we asked God how much He loves us, He would say, “more than you can imagine”. Sometimes we tell our kids that we love them more than they can imagine. It’s hard for kids to understand our love for them, and what it means to be a parent until they are parents. It would be nice if they could see it from our point of view sometimes. God’s love is even greater and more unimaginable than a parents love for their children.
God’s unimaginable love is difficult for us to accept. We don’t have a frame of reference for love at this level. We judge love by what we see and experience in the world around us, which pales in comparison to what we read about in the Bible. How could God love me that much? Look at what I have done. There are people who won’t forgive me. I have a hard time forgiving others and even myself sometimes.
The beauty of God’s love is that whether we understand it or not, it doesn’t change the fact that it is real and true. We just have to learn how to believe and receive it. So, with the Apostle Paul, I pray that we, being rooted and established in love may have the power and strength, together with all the Lord’s holy people to grasp and accept, how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. May you be filled with the fullness of God today!
Love y’all!
Robby Morris
Director of Family Ministry and Facility Management
Andrews UMC
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