Christ's Love is High (Christ's Love Series)

Christ's love is high.  It's better than we can imagine. High means lofty, towering, glorified, exalted, heroic, worthy, and majestic.

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: 17-19 (NIV)

These are my Bible study notes from sermons preached by my pastor.

Image Credit:  Pexels - CCO Public Domain Image - via Pixabay

Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens,

Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. - Psalm 36:5

Get this wall art here.

For Your lovingkindness  is great above the heavens,

And Your truth reaches to the skies - Psalm 108:4

Is God's love too high for me to reach?  NO.  God loves you but you must receive Him.  You must know Him in your heart.

Christ's Love is High

The high love of God is so high that:

1.  It raises us to life.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.  But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). - Ephesians 2:1-5

We are alive and raised.

We were in the low position, dead and headed for Hell, but Jesus raised us to life.  When we are not spiritually alive, we are dead to God and unable to communicate effectively with God.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. - Romans 3:23

We are born into sin.  No one has to teach us how to do bad things.  We do those things naturally.  We all deserve judgement.   The wages of sin is death but God sent Jesus.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.  - Romans 6:23

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. - Ephesians 2:4-6

What does this mean?

When we come alive in Christ, we begin to understand the scriptures better.

 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. - Romans 8:11

We now have the energy and power to do the right things.  We are convicted by the Holy Spirit when we don't.

For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming. - 1 Corinthians 15:21-23

We never die spiritually.

2.  He seats us to rest.

And raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. - Ephesians 2:6

By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God. - Hebrews 10:10-12

As high as God's love is, Satan tries to pile up my sins high, but God seats us to rest.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9

Learn to rest in the high love of a forgiving and loving God.

And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. - Ephesians 1:19-23

God is a judge over the entire world.  Why haven't you personally accepted the high love of God?

3.  He unites us to Christ. 

So that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. - Ephesians 2:7

We are hidden with Christ. - Colossians, Chapter 3.

For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. - Ephesians 5:29-32

God shows us a picture of marriage.  When we accept the high love of God, we are untied with Him.  Believers (those who have accepted Christ) are called the "bride of Christ."  Nothing can take us away from our bridegroom.  We are in a covenant relationship with Him.

Psalm 45 is called "The Royal Wedding Psalm."  Read the entire chapter here.

Forget your pain, your shame, etc.  Go to the King who loves you!

His love is so high that you don't have to hang your head down low.

Christ's love is wide, long, and high.  Go to Him.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. - Psalm 103:11

But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. - Psalm 13:5 

But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength;
Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For You have been my stronghold
And a refuge in the day of my distress. - Psalm 59:16

You'll find all my posts about this Bible study series here.

J Alexander's Restaurant in Chattanooga, Tennessee

When we visit Chattanooga, Tennessee, we like to visit many of the great restaurants.  One of our favorites is J Alexander's.  This one is located a short drive away from the downtown tourist area.  We've eaten here several times and each experience was great.  The atmosphere is relaxing, the food is great, and so is the service.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

J Alexander's Restaurant

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

We ordered the spinach cheese dip for our appetizer.  It tasted as good as it looks. 

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

I ordered the chicken strips.  I asked to trade the fries for a loaded baked potato.  I didn't even notice the dinner plate came with cole slaw until the waiter brought it out.  You can't tell from the picture, but that was a huge mountain of cole slaw.   

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

It was my birthday trip so I couldn't pass up J Alexander's carrot cake.  Oh my goodness.  We only live 2.5 hours away.  I might have to drive back up there some time just for this carrot cake.  If you choose to eat at the J Alexander's Restaurant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and you should, don't pass up the carrot cake!

Visit J Alexander's website for a location near you!

Read about more places to visit in Chattanooga, Tennessee here.

The Chattanooga Riverwalk stretches for 13 miles along the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  We've walked different parts of the Riverwalk in the past but never the whole thing at once.  On this particular day, we began our walk from the downtown Chattanooga area. Two of the first things you'll pass on your walk are the water spout area and the Hunter Museum of American Art.  Then you'll wind your way through a residential area before landing beside the river.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

 The Chattanooga Riverwalk

I was a little disappointed that we had walked a good ways before finally landing on a stretch by the river.  I was actually disappointed that the entire stretch we walked on this particular day had very little riverside areas.  The following photos are the ones I took from the area we walked this past weekend.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Soon after we landing on the stretch by the river from the downtown starting point, we were able to get a good view of the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge.  If you are planning your first visit to Chattanooga, you'll want to allow time to walk across this bridge.  The river view is beautiful and there is a nice shopping district and a beautiful park on the other side.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

There are several shady areas on the trail.  The Riverwalk is a great place for biking too.  There are several places in Chattanooga to rent bikes if you don't plan to take your own.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Beautiful homes line the other side of the river.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

My only complaints about the Chattanooga Riverwalk are that not enough of it is close enough to the water.  There are times when you can't see the river at all.  My other complaint is that there are several less than attractive areas you'll have to pass through.  One of those areas is a sewer water treatment plant and well . . . it stinks.

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

The restroom area was nice and clean both times we've visited the Chattanooga Riverwalk.  

Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living

When you stop at the restroom area, you can enjoy a nice break on the benches provided.  

This is as far as we got before heading back to the van to head to dinner at J Alexander.  The last time we walked along the Riverwalk, we started from the opposite end from the downtown entrance.  It seems like, if I remember correctly, the stretch from the restroom area to the other end of the trail offers more riverside views.  Maybe we'll walk the entire 13 miles someday.  Then, we'll be able to show you lots of river view pictures.

Read about more places to visit in Chattanooga, Tennessee here.