And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
The more you understand God’s love for you, the more confidently and boldly you’ll live out your faith. You’re not trying to get God to love you. You are “rooted and established” in it.
All of us each have a piece of the puzzle. Together we see the whole picture.
Developing a Christ-confident faith starts on your knees.
The focus of your prayer is not on WHAT you’re asking but WHOM you’re asking! Don’t focus on what you need; focus on the God who can meet your needs. The requests grow out of the relationship.
I like that word “embrace.” People “accept” Jesus as their Lord and Savior but that seems like we’re “allowing” Him rather than really “embracing” that reality. It also sounds more familial.
And just imagine: God returns the embrace! Our God is Lord and Nurturer (Comforter). He is our Counselor, our Peace, our Joy.
He literally takes the bases AND throws resin bag as if it’s a grenade!
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Grace: God gives you this gift that allows you to serve. The moment you think you’ve earned the right to serve, you’re lost as God’s servant.
We serve by God’s power. Servants are energized by God’s power. When we try to do it in our own power we lose motivation and are weary.
We serve in humility. Service does not elevate us above people. If we allow it to, we are going down a dangerous path.