His Love Is Outside In -- Not the Other Way Around

"14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3: 14-19)

We need the Spirit of God to help us understand how much God the Father loves us.

It's more than an intellectual assent.

This love defines who we are:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

Another element which we neglect -- that God's love extends in every direction, beyond our understanding:

"20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3: 20-21)

and

"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103: 12)

Wow! Isn't that cool?

God's love is not something that we generate on the inside, but rather a love which we recognize on the outside:

"10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4: 10)

Jesus is your mercy seat, right now! He is outside of you, and for that reason Paul told us where to set our focus:

"1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)

His Love is Outside, so see Him who is from the beginning outside (1 John 2: 12-14) and then you will sense His love inside, shed abroad in your heart (Romans 5: 8)