the fullness of God

We either live bravely or we live cowardly. There is no in between.

Paul writes a prayer to the Ephesians that they may be "filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." I've been wondering lately what that may look like in the flesh.

The "fullness"of God. Huh. I cannot fathom it.

Even more, we can be filled with that fullness. That I'm not so sure I even believe. It's so big. I think of Paul's words, "...his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms..."

Incomparably great. Mighty strength. Raised from the dead.

The tomb is empty. It is finished.

So not only can we be filled to his measure, but we can know and actually experience his power; power like nothing else that has, does, or will ever exist.

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the power he uses in your life. Can you even swallow that?

Paul says he became a “servant of the gospel through the working of God's power.” We too are servants in the working of God's power. So what does that mean? What do we even do with that? How then, ought our life look if we are servants and warriors for a Kingdom so miraculous, so immense, and so divine, that one day every knee will bow.

Every single knee.

What depths would we go to if we earnestly had faith that God would meet us there? What questions would we ask ourselves if we earnestly believed that He'd stand in the gap when we don't know where the questions will lead us?

Where would we go, what would we risk, give up, train for, and stake our life on if it meant that in our surrender, it gave God room to fill us with his power. The power that restores life to the dead and healing to the sick.

Sometimes we are so afraid to ask ourselves these difficult questions. We are even afraid to ask God. What if his answer isn't what we want? Or what if he doesn't even answer? So instead we keep cruising along as best we can, ignoring our call and our purpose in the body of Christ.

It isn't that we don't have faith God won't show up, it's that we don't actually believe he will.

Faith springs forth from belief. Belief is passive; faith is active. If your faith is weak, it's because you don't truly believe. The only way we can come to know and experience the fullness of God is to follow his son, Jesus. And the only way we can follow Jesus is to commit our life to him, going with him wherever he leads, inviting him in to every decision, every pain, and every celebration.

As we invite him in to our decisions, he's going to reveal things and usually slowly. As we invite him in to our pains, he's going to send his spirit to comfort us, to speak on our behalf. As we invite him in to our celebration, he is going to rejoice with us, laugh with us, he's going to dance.

No matter the invitation and no matter the circumstance, he will always reveal more of himself.

How often do we sit, stand, or kneel in just a reverent awe of how huge this truth is. It is not only huge, it is life-giving and it is radical. It goes against the very grain of humanity. We don't always want or even think to invite God in to our lives. We don't believe that when we do, he's going to fill us with himself.

There is always more in us.

There is always more room to grow and more of Jesus to know.

But the only way we are going to continue to experience him is if we agree to set ourselves aside and let him lead us. And that means anywhere. Yes, that means pain. Yes, that means joy.

But you will never reach the “bottom of your heart” because in the love of God, there are no limits. It is as high and deep as it is far and wide.

Then if his love is infinite and everywhere, why do we cap out when we get married, have a family, buy a house, get a dream job, or have money in our bank account? Does our growth and does his fullness “end” when we get what we want? Or does his fullness “end” when we think we can’t walk any further because it’s just too hard.

Instead of living for more, instead of seeking his “incomparably great” power, we control out of fear or pride; we try to control our lives and we allow our thoughts to dwell on the things that only add more smoke to the illusion. Or we shrink back. We cower and shy away from the depths, the questions, the callings, and the risks. As we shrink, we doubt, we grow timid. A timid spirit has no room for God's power, "But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed but of those who believe and are saved."

Some of us may find our spirit chained to our own control, our timidity, our fear or anxiety. Fortunately, God cannot be chained. Remember, the tomb is empty.

If we allow the spirit of God to fill us in the places we are the most chained, can we even fathom what his freeing presence can do?

Use your imagination; it's a gift God gave you.

What would that look like? Who would we become? Or do we dare even ask...

Paul prays that Christ would dwell in our hearts, that we would grasp his love that surpasses all knowledge, and that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Are we so abundantly saturated in the power of God that the only way anyone is going to find us is through him? When people look at us and talk to us, are they experiencing the fullness of God?

Are we living from our broken places, inviting God in to our weakness to consume us, so that we will be “joined and held together by every supporting ligament, growing and building itself up in love, as each part does its work.” We are the body of Christ. Unified. (Or are we?) This is how his fullness is restored in each of us; but it only works if we allow it, if we receive it, and if we work together.

Invite him. Include him. Seek him. He will not fail you.