Life to the Fullest

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. - John 10:10 NASB

My standing picture of "abundance" is the Thanksgiving feast table growing up.  More food than all the guests could eat in three meals.  Overflowing off of the table to the point where it is difficult to find a place to squeeze the plates in.  When Christ says that He came that we would have abundant life I believe that He meant the full, overflowing, gracious and loving life that flows out of who we are in Him.  Yet, too seldom do I see in my days His abundant life.  It is easy to be distracted from Him Who is the source.  Easy to have the abundance of His life-gift fettered by fears, selfishness or sin in some other form.  I hope this week I choose to look to the Author of life, for what He alone has given - what He alone can give.  By His grace He has given it it immeasurable quantity to all who have trusted in Jesus Christ.  A life that is fully free to love, forgive, be hurt and rejoice in all things (even trials).  That is what I want this week.

The Only Wise God

The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens. - Pro 3:19 NASB

Alice laments in Lewis Carroll's classic Alice in Wonderland: "I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it." So often we know which choice is correct and which will bring pain and loss and yet make the unwise choice.  Lack of wisdom (both on our part and the part of others) characterizes and taints most of our decisions and situations.  However, this compromise is not necessary for God.  In all wisdom and understanding He founded the earth, the systems by which it would exist; fully knowing everything that would happen in and to His beloved creation. Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:8 that the Salvation which God has made available to mankind in Christ is part of God's unlimited and amazing wisdom.  None of God's choices are flippant or foolish.  They are always intentional and wonderful.  God desired a relationship with you, not on a whim, but based on His infinite wisdom and love.

Imagination

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. - Ephesians 3:20-21 NASB

I love imagination.  It seems to me to be one of the most important ways that man has been fashioned in God's image is creativity.  Just as God looked at nothing and created space, time and the entirety of the world, seen and unseen; so, a similar (yet finite) way man can look at a tree and turn it into a table and chairs.  Man's imagination has given us some amazing things: the steam engine, the cellular telephone, and those cool chairs that give you a back massage (just to name a few).  Yet all of man's imagination can never reach the end of what God is doing in the life of the believer.  In our lives He is doing "exceedingly, abundantly beyond all we could ask or imagine."  This is how Paul describes God conforming the believer to the image of Christ.  He alone has the ability, He has the desire, and we cannot even imagine the fullness of life that is ahead for the one who knows Jesus Christ today.