Exceeding Abundantly part 5
After 2,000 years we're still just scratching the surface of our knowledge of God. Of how much God loves us. And that's ok. Because it's a life-long journey and we have been given the gift of eternal life. I was preaching just last night about how Jesus is the beginning and the end (the Alpha and the Omega) but in reality the "end"--of the old man and everything else that was old--happened already. And we've been equipped and empowered to walk in NEWNESS of life. All things are become new. Life as we knew it before the cross, before we knew Jesus, just doesn't apply anymore. Which is nice because "life" just doesn't cut it. We weren't created just to suffer for a few years, pay bills, and then die. We were created to express God's love. AS an expression of God's love. Jesus came that we might have life, and have it exceeding abundantly. He came that we might know the Father, and in knowing the Father know ourselves as Son(s). He came to improve the human condition. And catch that--He didn't come to TAKE AWAY the human condition. Somehow we've gotten the idea that we're supposed to stop being human in order to be "holy." We've gotten the idea that we're supposed to deny ourselves and be someone else. Guys, the Word became flesh and blood and dwelt among us. We're always so worried about being "more Spiritual" that we miss out on the truth that the Spirit came down to be "more human"! We think we're supposed to separate from everything--whatever your particular culture preaches as "sin", be it TV, or soda pop, or what--when really God wants us to experience His creation to the fullest. I really think that's what Paul was talking about when he wrote about the whole creation groaning and waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. We take what life throws at us and try to do the best we can with it instead of realizing that we are connected to the unlimited source of life. The unlimited source of love. God. HE is the power working within us that is able to DO exceeding abundantly above all we could ask or even think. LOVE is the power. Love can do more than we could ask or think because love is so much bigger and better than we think. We even have this backwards view of love--"I'll scratch your back so you'll scratch mine." But love is never ever about getting. Love is always about giving. Love IS giving. Giving out of the abundance that we have been giving. Receiving and releasing. Sharing what we've got. We are blessed... to be a blessing. We are NOT blessed to be a hoarder. When you keep something to yourself it is what it is. But when you share something... it grows. It gets bigger and better. It gets REAL. And that's what the abundant, eternal, everlasting, Resurrection Life is. It's REAL life. A life of exceeding abundant love. Don't we understand that the only difference between death and life is love? If you know you're loved you can love. It flows from the source. If you know God lives in you you can live. You can partake of His Divine Nature. You can experience His life as HE lives it in, and through, and as you! And that right there is higher than we could ask OR think. That right there is not head knowledge, but heart knowledge. A life... of love.