The key to growing as a Christian is to be committed to the belief that there is more to Jesus than we currently grasp
Personal growth is one of the things that we all wrestle with. How can we become wiser, stronger, and better people? How can we have more peace and contentment, fulfillment and satisfaction, happiness and joy?
The Bible’s answer to these questions is that we need more of Jesus. Paul's words in Ephesians 3:14-21 teach us that there is far more to Jesus than we think. He also teaches us that we can be “strengthened” (e.g. fortified, reinforced, and supported) as we grasp more of Jesus, being enabled by the Spirit to allow Christ to dwell richly in our hearts. Here is what Paul writes:
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 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.”
In light of this passage, we can see that there are at least three aspects of Jesus that are greater than we realize:
There is more to Jesus’ glory. Paul speaks of the “glorious riches” of Christ in verse 16. Earlier in verse 8, he says that Jesus’ glory is “boundless." This means that no matter how long you sit at Jesus’ feet—meditating on Him, praying to Him, learning about Him, worshiping Him—there will always be something more glorious and wonderful about Him to grasp. He is far more glorious than we think.
There is more to Jesus’ love. Paul says that Jesus’ love is so “wide and long and high and deep” that it “surpasses knowledge.” This means that no matter what your experience of Jesus’ love has been like up to this point in your life, there is more of his love for you to receive. His love is bountiful, endless, limitless. You will never get to the bottom of His love.
There is more to Jesus’ ability. In verse 20, Paul says that Jesus is able to do “immeasurably more” than all we can “ask" or “imagine.” In other words, his ability is much greater than we can comprehend. We wouldn’t even think to ask Him for all the things He can do!
It is easy for us to believe that the Second Person of the Trinity is not really doing much for us right now—that we live only in the age of the Spirit rather than the age of the Son. But the Bible tells us that Jesus “lives to make intercession” for us (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34). This means that Jesus is not at all passive in your life. In truth, He is working harder for your personal growth than you are. He is able to do more for you than you can imagine.
The key to growing as a Christian is to be committed to the belief that there is more to Jesus than we currently grasp. His glory is far richer than we think. His love is “wider and longer and higher and deeper" than we currently experience. And He is a far greater ally to us now than we tend to realize—able to do immeasurably more than anything we could ask or imagine.
We need more of Jesus in order to grow. We can only grow in wisdom the more we grasp His glory, because in Him is “ hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). We will only find true peace and contentment, fulfillment and satisfaction, happiness and joy, when we experience more of Jesus’ love—because His love assures us that we have the security and acceptance our hearts continue to desperately long for. And we will only become stronger and more courageous people the more we realize what an ally we have in Jesus—that He is our great intercessor, our helper, and our friend.
There is more to Jesus than we think.
Adam Smith is a Ministry Associate in Washington, D.C.