He Is Able to Do More

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 NIV

More than we ask or imagine...I heard a NBA coach once say, in response to a question by a court side reporter about the obvious number of free throw calls in his teams favor, "Well, I think we should of got more calls." The reporter was kind of stunned and didn't know what to say. That is how I am when I read these verses. God is able to do more than I ask or imagine. 

Well, OK, Lord strengthen us in such a way that we can't even imagine. Provide for us in ways that we don't even know how to ask. Be glorified in our actions in ways we can't begin to measure.

What to Wear

When I worked in restaurants I wore whatever the uniform they gave us to wear.  As a teacher I have a bit more freedom to choose what I want to wear, so I have to think about it. Mondays we are supposed to wear college shirts. I do try to look professional. 

Spiritually speaking we need to put on the armor of light and clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. Earlier in the chapter Paul taught about loving your neighbor as yourself. Today, how can we love our neighbors?

Give the Grace You Hope to Get

So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:12

Sandwiched in between teachings on judging others, asking God who wants to give us good gifts, entering through the narrow gate and recognizing a tree by its fruit is the Golden Rule. 

In verse 11, Jesus stressed that we need to understand that our natural desire to give good gifts to our children is just a fraction of the love that God has for us and his desire to give us good things. Then, in verse 12, in the Golden Rule, Jesus teaches us to go beyond empathy and treat others how we want them to treat us. This he says is what the entire Law and the Prophets is trying to say. 

Just take a moment and apply the Golden Rule to a few things...

You forgot to do something.

You lost your patience.

You spoke too soon.

You misunderstood.

Again. 

Give the grace who hope to get. 

HURRY UP AND REST

"Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience." Hebrews 4:11

You know, it's funny because I can fall asleep on my couch watching TV, but, I can't sleep on my couch. In a similar way the exhortation in verse 11 seems at odds with itself at first glance. How does effort result in rest?

I think it has to do with how you enter the rest. Rest the right way, you might say. The point that the author of Hebrews has been making is that the Israelites did not enter the promise land (rest) because of their unbelief, their hardened hearts. We, who heard the good news of salvation in Christ, need to receive what  God is giving us by faith. Our effort is to live by faith in Christ. 

Remember the words of Christ, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and I will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). 

Father, help us to, by faith, enter that rest. Praise be to you in us today!