Fat Monk


20 Nov 2024

Faith deep and wide

Faith if frequently associated with level of strength or size. Strong faith or big faith. It is also useful to think of it in terms of depth and width.

A deep faith is sort of like a strong faith. But a wide (or broad) faith has a different connotation for me. It is faith that is applicable - and applied and visible - in a wide / broad range of circumstances.

Some people act in "strong" faith in specific areas of life, but otherwise undifferentiated from non-believers. I think Christ calls his followers to follow and obey him in wide / broad range of areas - all areas of life, in fact. My faith needs to match, and be powered by, his love. Love that is wide and long and high and deep.

"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."

(Ephesians 3.16-19 NIV)

Related:
Selective obedience
Faith to love