True Abundance
Ephesians 3 (English Standard Version)
20) 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, 21) to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
I think sometimes that this is a tough pill to swallow. You look at your checkbook and it’s empty. You look at the calendar and there’s way too much time between now and the next paycheck. You look at the state of your marriage and there seems to be no hope. You see your kids acting as if they were spawned from Satan himself. The car is broken and you have no idea how you are going to get it fixed.
It’s times like these that make it hard to have faith. It’s times like these that make you throw up your hands in surrender. Your done. You quit. It’s over. Finished. “Take me home God, I’m of no use to You here!”
I know, I’ve said and done all these at one point or another, and on more than one occasion. There are times I am still tempted. I would be a liar if I said otherwise, but at some point something has to change on the inside of us. Something on the inside of us has to say “enough”!
Let me give you an example. I have seen zero in my checking more than once in my lifetime. One day, I was school shopping, cause kids need clothes for school. I knew that it was going to put us close to zero. Well, I saw this shirt that I liked and God told me he wanted me to get the shirt and give it to someone else! My first thought, naturally, is that if I’m going to spend my last few bucks getting a shirt I liked, it was going to be for me! My second was that I need to hold on to that money cause I was going to need it. God wanted to teach me a principle. This was a test, a test of the “are you going to be obedient and trust God system.” I decided to obey God. I felt like something changed inside of me. I felt defiant. I felt like I just walked up to the bully on the playground and spit in his face, and knocked his lights out! I felt like I gave the spirit of lack a superman punch to the temple. It felt good.
Let me just say it didn’t change the fact that I was broke, but it did change my mind-set, and that was worth more than it’s weight in gold! The freedom I felt didn’t fill my tummy much the rest of the week, but something very powerful happened that day. I’m sure some of you thought I was going to say that someone gave me money, or someone handed me the keys to a Rolls Royce or something. (Haha) I got something far more important; abundantly above what I would have thought to ask for! If I would have had a choice, I would have asked for money. What was imparted was better!
according to the power at work within us
God is trying to do a deeper work in us than money, or wealth, or cars could ever do. He is imparting His very nature inside of us. Things that neither moth, or rust, or decay could ever destroy. Things that are eternal, incorruptable, and immovable.
Romans 8:20-22
20) For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21) that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22) For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
God is trying to birth something in you greater than anything you can measure by weights and rulers. He is transforming our corrupted ways and thinking into the likeness of His Son Jesus. He wants to pour out His gifts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control in you and through you. Let His Spirit lead you into true abundance that only comes from an obedient and willing heart.
Kevin
