Skip to main content

Hallelujah!


           Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

           Sigh. How is a person supposed to comment anything beyond “Hallelujah!”? And yet, here we are.
          I suspect that a considerable percentage of believers may struggle with the idea that God can do more than all we ask or imagine. Oh, of course, He’s omnipotent, but we want ________ and we don’t get it. God can, but God doesn’t, so why et excited.
            Part of the problem is that “more than all we ask or imagine” involves minds that ask or imagine in God’s direction. Often, when we ask or think, it’s external, but Paul is talking about the power that is at work within us. Paul’s perspective seems to be similar to Dallas Willard’s. Prof. Willard spoke of the important thing being that we become the kind of person who does the things we want to do.
             And since I'm beginning my fall and winter half of life this morning, the question is a good one. What kind of person do I want to be? Three obvious choices are: wise, directed, and one that has a good attitude. Another would be that I want to be a person characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Then there are the heart's cries: competent, collected, calm, organized, strong, educated, and beautiful (inside at least)...  I know that some of those are on God's list for me, but maybe not all of them.  
          What's on  your list?



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...

Listen!

  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)            Do you like roller coasters? I don't. You spend forever climbing a hill. You get to the top and have half a second, then you race down to a low point. Sometimes the racing down involves tying your insides into knots. At the bottom, you either have to be dragged up another hill or you get off the ride. Peter's life was a roller coaster from the time he met Jesus. There would be miracles, and then Jesus would teach things that didn't always make sense, and then they'd go out and perform miracles, and return to be taught. Peter was praised for giving the right answer to "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said that said answer came from God. Peter was at the top of the hill.            ...