Today’s Scripture is: Ephesians 3: 17b - 21 (The Message) And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!
I printed The Message version of this portion of scripture because I love it’s use of certain descriptive words.... “extravagant dimensions”...”Reach out”....”Plumb the depths!”...”Rise to the heights!”...”wildest dreams!” These are adventure and action words!
I’m an on the edge, give me an adventure, kind of girl. I like change, I like taking new ground, I like trying new things, etc. So this idea of God challenging me to live a full life, trusting His love and power and ability to do more than I could ever imagine, guess or request, is a dream for me! My problem is that I don’t always take Him up on it. I think it’s because although I love adventure, there’s always a scary part and a step of faith to do something out of my comfort zone. But I’m reminded here, that I can have my feet firmly planted on the certainty and safety of God’s love, and still be adventurous. I can reach out and receive His power for every aspect of my life, yet know that I am safe because of “this love that surpasses knowledge” (NIV).
God’s not going to “push” me into something that He won’t equip me for. He works in me by His Spirit and power to move me into steps of faith and positions of uncomfortableness when He knows I’m ready! I may not know I’m ready, but He does. I believe the more I understand the depth and fullness of His love, the more available I can be for whatever He calls me to! Maybe it’s something big like leaving everything behind to go do missionary work in another country... or maybe it’s being salt and light everyday to my neighbor next door. Either way, life with God is an adventure and knowing His abundant love for me, helps me to trust what He calls me to do.
How is your trust level with God? Do you trust that His love for you is higher, deeper, and wider, than anything you can imagine? Do you believe He can do anything (not just in other people’s lives, but in your own life) that you could ever imagine... anything in your wildest dreams? If He has so much abundant love for me and you, shouldn’t we be abundantly available to Him and His call on our lives?
Father, I want to be abundantly available to you. I know you love me and I know you love people that are far from you. I want a life of adventure WITH you.... focusing on your Kingdom work - not on myself. Even though you love me abundantly, it’s not about me! It’s about you... bringing Glory to you...and bringing people into a relationship with you so they can receive the abundant love you have for them too! Use me Lord! You give me all the tools I need for this adventure! I love you, Amen.
What are your thoughts today? J denise