March 2, 2023
Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-19 (MSG)– “My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.”
What it means
If you don’t already do this…as you attempt to read scripture, make sure to try different translations of the bible for an even richer, more meaningful experience as we attempt to grow closer and closer to The Lord. We all have our go-to favorite translations, and that’s fine, but be intentional in trying to experiment with different translations. There is so much to learn in scripture, and if you have the time and the desire to learn even more, then look at different translations and compare/contrast what they say.
Okay, enough of that…but isn’t this a rich translation from The Message translation? I like this scripture from Ephesians anyway, but this particular translation just seems to raise it to a whole new level as the apostle Paul exhorts all of his readers to consider our response to the love that Jesus offers to all of us. You see, he wants us to experience His love in a way that goes beyond mere information…although that is a part of it. We can understand snippets of what Jesus offers to us, but when you get down to it, His love for each of us ultimately goes beyond our comprehension. There’s just no way to completely get it…and that’s okay, we’re not supposed to.
What it means to me
Don’t remember if I’ve shared this with you, but a watershed moment in my Christian walk came at the tender age of 18 when I was asked a very poignant question from my choir director at Cokesbury, Roxanna Jones. “Brian, if you were to die tonight and come face to face with Jesus, what do you think your first response would be?” As an 18-year old, of course, I had no clue…my life was just getting good, and I really didn’t have time to ponder such deep questions that were still a lifetime away. But I’ll never forget her response – “I think the only thing I would be able to do would be to fall on my knees in awe and reverence. That’s the only response that I could muster.” I’ve never forgotten that conversation – and as I grow closer and closer to my own finish line, the question becomes more and more relevant…what will I do when I first encounter The Master? As much as I’d like to think that I would be smart, charming and funny (as I already am, ha!), I suspect my response would be the same. Whatever your answer to this question is (and there’s not only one correct response), just remember to “reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.” Amen!
Love you guys, see you Sunday!
In Christ,
Brian