A living example of knowing the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge

Posted by Alan Knox on Oct 30, 2012 in blog links | 3 comments

Yesterday, in my post “To know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,” I ended with some simple questions. Primarily, I said that Paul prays that the Ephesians have the power to know something that cannot be known, i.e., the love of Christ.

Our discussion about that passage and statement led me to think about BeckyLynn Black, the wife of Dave Black. She has been fighting cancer for a couple of years now. And, last week, she needed emergency surgery for a perforation in the lower part of her stomach.

During the last two years, the Blacks have walked into aspects of life that they have never experienced before. And, do you know what they found there in the midst of pain and struggle and suffering? The love of Christ.

For example, consider this excerpt from his post yesterday, Monday, October 29, 2012 at 9:47 p.m.:

These are days of great blessing for Becky and me. We have been plunged into a deep mystery, facing momentous decisions, longing for intimacy with our Lord, riding (as Becky says) “on a raft of mercy and grace down a mighty river.” Because of His grace, we are staying on deck, surrendered in faith to His truth and character. He loves us whether in a state of health or illness, just as we are, not necessarily as we should be.

I just got home after some pretty heavy-duty ministry, a bit bedraggled and worn out, but shouting “Wow!” at what I have seen God do since I last updated you. Perhaps the gut issue is not Becky’s health as much as it is Am I experiencing God on a moment-by-moment basis? In times like these, theoretical Christianity collapses. Becky and I have been swept up into the embrace of God, into His inexhaustible, unfathomable love. His outstretched arms exclude no one, not even a tired old Greek prof or a woman undaunted by cancer and its consequences. So what of these circumstances! I am David Black, and I am my Daddy’s son. I am an eyewitness to the truth of the Gospel: God loves me! And Becky Lynn!…

So it’s been one of those crazy, wild, hectic, enjoyable, satisfying weekends. I remember so vividly when all of this craziness started, with Becky literally writhing in pain last Wednesday, but since then God has done some really great things. I honestly can’t say enough about the excellent care we’re receiving at UNC. I am now, more than ever, convinced that truly nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. No matter how hard things get, He has given us each other and especially His Spirit to help us make it through all the weariness and frustration and heartache.

Did you catch that? Because of everything they have gone through, they are convinced that “nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Now, as a New Testament professor, I’m guessing that Dave Black has read, thought about, and taught that verse many, many times. He’s probably parsed it, translated it, and interpreted it for many different classrooms full of students.

But, now, he’s living it in an entirely different way – a way that he’s never experienced before. Do you know what he’s finding? The love of Christ… everywhere he goes and everything he goes though.

I think that’s a great living example of “knowing the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.”