Ephesians 3:14-21 (NIV)
People are capable of great things. Helping others, giving of themselves, going over and beyond. We see disaster and so we respond. How we respond or in what way we respond is so very interesting. It certainly takes a mission heart.
Being a storyteller, I’m in awe of the stories that can come through tragedy. Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, hail. All powerful things that can literally take your life away. How do we begin to show our heart?
It’s a fact that we reveal our finest moments in those times when we respond. It’s all rooted in love. Without love we find ourselves unable to help. We’re not rooted in the love necessary to take part in the response.
Paul had this one big prayer. That people would find how to be rooted in a Christ connection. Allowing Christ to take up permanent residence in their hearts. Like a deep rooted tree knowing it’s there to stay. Knowing it won’t go anywhere.
The ministry of Christ is all about love. God’s grace is provoking us toward Him and His love. Connecting us to God and one another. We discover the true dimensions of God’s love for us. Because…
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So what about God’s grace. I submit there’s more to God’s grace than any of us has ever dreamt. God is ever in our lives working to help us understand His love.
The table of more—that’s the communion table.
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When you go to the table of more—God is there to meet you.
Why?
Because….
God’s love is more
God’s forgiveness is more
God’ strength is more
God’s help is more
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians was to know the surpassing love of God. He wants us to be rooted in the love of God. Experience more to make you more. His more becomes our more.
I wonder if we really understand what it means to love unconditionally. I believe we do. I believe we sometimes don’t know how to show it. Those are the times we must look to God so that we “know this love that surpasses knowledge” so that “we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash
I once knew a lady by the name of Mrs. Mary Ray. I adored her. She touched my heart in such a way that I’ll never forget her. Mrs. Ray was a poet. Her daughter kindly gave me a collection of her poems that I put in a binder for safe keeping. Since this is my February blog that speaks to God’s love, I thought it appropriate to share one of Mrs. Ray’s beautiful poems about “the perfect fullness of God’s love.”
By the perfect fullness of God’s love and grace,
We can look toward heaven and seek our Savior’s face.
In God’s Son, the gentle Jesus, we are made aware
Of the blessed promises which are ours to share.
The promise of abundant life, with love, joy, and peace.
The forgiveness of sin
And a home in heaven where no sorrow enters in!
H.M.R.
What’s your Valentine love story? Care to share?
And that’s what I learned in Church……see ya next time!
