 |
| Art found at: Fromtheheartart.com |
The right resources make such a difference. Mama Ina Mae had Strong's Concordance. It was huge among the other reference books on our shelf at home...and as a child...I didn't "get it". Obviously, they did. I am sure she used it in Bible Studies with Grandma Marge and other local girls in the ladies fellowship circle. Carrying it around would build your biceps... and not just increase Bible understanding.
Today, Bible study is so much easier. Blueletterbible.org puts original Greek and Hebrew at our finger tips. Commentaries and figure it out yourself opportunities are abundant. You might not find it interesting, but for a "word girl"...it is kind of like an archaeological dig...only with words.
Now, I believe that the word of God is a living, breathing and life giving book. I think that it was divinely designed for the average man or woman to be able to pick it up and understand it.... enough that the gift of God through Christ could be discovered, accepted and embraced through His Word. This is easier in our own language. I am grateful for the original English translation promoted by King Jame...but more than that, I am grateful for the translations in modern English that help me clearly grasp the content. My "King James" is rusty and it is not my first language.
Still, within the pages of every well researched and Spirit protected Biblical translation... there are nuggets to be discovered. This was my Bible Gateway verse of the day:
"so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:17-19
I read it...started this post on God revealing himself through his word...and then as I looked for more passages to "support" thoughts and revelations, I discovered that the entire passage of Ephesians 3 is just what I hoped to find. Paul is relishing the mystery of the Gospel of Christ revealed. Remember...they didn't have the physical "book" we have today. Still, they shared what they had, what they knew, what they experienced and what they witnessed. It must have been an amazing season.
I don't think Paul ever stopped being in awe of God's ways and his Word. He grew up loving the Scriptures... a passionate Jew... but the day he met Jesus on the road to Damascus...he was blinded so he could see. The depth of his understanding of the Old Testament, it made him the perfect candidate to serve the gospel...but God has to deal with him boldly to get him to open his eyes to the truth that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies he knew so well. Broken in spirit by his blindness...it was at his lowest point that he submitted to a sovereign God and found his way to new life and new sight. He found abundance in and through Christ. The very one whose disciples he had been persecuting...even killing. God's grace to him made him giddy. I am sure his old friends thought he had gone completely mad.
Life's trials couldn't break his spirit. God's interventions on his behalf and others in service to the gospel fueled his passions. He no longer feared death...it had lost it's sting. He embraced one day at a time...Paul dwelling in Christ and Christ dwelling in him. He knew his human knowledge and comprehension had limitations (and he was an expert in Jewish law), but he kept digging, seeking, praying and learning.
"so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:17-19
This post began with one little word search. "So that Christ my dwell in your hearts".
"Dwell" from the Greek word κατοικέω katoikéō It is translated "to house permanently" or as a resident literally or figuratively. Paul understood both the literal and the figurative. The Holy Spirit filled his heart. His God shaped piece that religion didn't quite fill was perfectly completed when he found a real, true and enduring relationship with Christ. The soul hole was finally plugged. Paul no longer needed to chase religious excellence. He had found new life, full life, a happy life (no matter his circumstances) in Christ.
Can we really "comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge"? It appears that we must grow deep roots. Love is the soil that grows our understanding and gives us strength for the journey. We must invite Christ to "dwell" in us. A permanent resident...in the literal sense as well as the figurative. Yes, the soul hole needs filled. He waits for the invitation.
Love surpasses knowledge...it says so.: "the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge" Paul was a thinker and a doer...but he found the richness of the gospel played out in his life when he learned to trust the love of Christ. His example humbles my heart. I miss the mark when I fail to trust.
Did you know Paul prayed for us. Look at this prayer he offered to blanket future generations: "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. -Ephesions 3:20-21
We are the future generations. Thanks, Paul!
Today, I am grateful for blueletterbible.org... good and available resources...and for Paul's prayer for us.
No comments:
Post a Comment