More Than Enough

From my morning reading


exceeding greatness

Preachers talk much about God's greatness, but just how great is He? There are some Greek words that provide us with a glimpse. There are actually several such words in one single verse, Ephesians 1:19 : the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.

Greatness translates megethos, which appears only here in the NT, and means strong or great. This obviously wasn't good enough for Paul, so he adds huperballo (exceeding), which is a compound word from huper (over, above, or beyond), and ballo (to put or cast). The literal meaning, then, is to throw beyond the usual mark, so metaphorically, to excel or surpass. The full idea of the expression huperballon megethos, therefore, is a power that is beyond measure, super abounding or surpassing power, power that is more than enough.

One Greek authority makes this comment: "The word megethos is found only here in the NT. Such Pauline hapax legomena (words used only once) again reflect the outreach of the great apostle's mind in seeking to describe the wonders of divine redemption. One can almost see words stretching at their seams as Paul tries to pour more meaning into them."

Also notice that Paul doesn't include what God's power exceeds. The obvious implication is that it exceeds everything. What a thought! The God who not only spoke the universe into existence, but who raised Christ from the dead and who put all things under [Christ's] feet, and gave him to be the head over all things ( Eph. 1:22 ) has power that is far beyond any possibility of measuring. What instrument could exist that could do so? Paul simply could not say enough about the greatness and majesty of God, and as exact a language as Greek is, he still had difficulty even finding words to express his thoughts.

From A Word for the Day:
Key Words from the New Testament.

This is a very encouraging word. God is not stingy with His power to help me. He doesn’t tell me to pull myself up by my bootstraps. He wants to help beyond what I can imagine and that power is more than enough.

Thank you Lord for the incredible gift You have given to me.

Philip

Isolation

Here is a lesson I am learning: it’s not good to be alone. The Bible says that in Genesis 2:18: Then the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." Specifically it is talking of God making woman for man but it’s application is much greater. I need my wife and I need friends too.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him--a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

This is something I am learning through the Samson Society. I meet with a group of guys every week and I call a friend almost every day. I try to be open about what is going on in my life. I’m learning that I don’t have to do it all by myself. I’m finding the synergistic strength that comes from more than one.

I was able to put it into practice this week. My wife and I went to a marriage conference last weekend and had a great time. As soon as it was over, we learned that a bad situation had happened at home while we were gone. As we drove home, I listened to my work voicemail messages and heard from a customer who expressed concern that I had damaged a sink while doing a re-grout job in her bathroom. Talk about horrible timing! I kept that to myself figuring there was enough going on already.

The next morning I called the customer and was glad to hear that she had calmed down. I listened to what she had to say and told her I would do some research and get back to her. Then I did something I rarely do. I told my wife what was going on. Usually I would hold it in and try to figure out what to do. It felt so good to spread my burden around. It felt good to force myself out of isolation. It felt good to hear her encouragement and sympathy.

It took two days but I was able to research the problem, talk to some tile companies and in the end the customer was satisfied that I hadn’t caused the problem. It was probably something already there that she hadn’t noticed before.

I told my friends in the Samson Society the story last night. I was thankful that together we are learning to step out of isolation. Our lives are becoming an open book with each other and that is carrying over to other areas and relationships as well.

I have to push myself to open up. I find it hard to come up with the words to express what is going on let alone what is going on inside. I usually want to have things figured out before I talk about them; I’m learning to express the unfinished. It’s also hard to talk about things going on in my life when I know the answers. I feel silly when I know the solution but can’t seem to put it into practice.

God is telling me that I need other people, we all do. He didn’t create me do be a lone ranger. The devil likes me to be alone, easier to pick me off that way. There is no such thing as a self-made-man; just guys who fail to realize how much others have helped them.

It’s hard but I’m going to keep pushing against the wall of isolation. I find joy in collective strength and I find peace in knowing others are watching my back.

Philip

Lay it Down

From my morning reading.

He Bears and He Gives

"What a glorious Lord! He who daily bears our burdens also gives us our salvation." Psalm 68:19

Did it ever occur to you that you are disobeying God when you carry your own burdens, when you are worried, frustrated and confused over circumstances? That is exactly what God's Word says.

In 1 Peter 5:7, God gives a specific command to His children, "Cast all your cares upon Him; for He cares for you." Not to cast all of one's cares upon the Lord is to disobey Him and to deny oneself that supernatural walk with God among men.

Is it not logical to believe that He who loved us so much that He was willing to give His only begotten Son would also be faithful to keep His promise to bear our burdens daily?

As the psalmist so aptly states, the Lord bears our burdens on a daily basis for the believer, the day will never come when God fails to carry our load, to strengthen us, to impart power to us through His indwelling Holy Spirit - if we but ask.

From Promises
A Daily Guide to Supernatural Living
by Bill Bright

Sometimes I lay awake at night worrying about things. This devotional speaks to that. I need to turn those things over to God, especially the things I can’t do anything about. I need to remember that He cares for me. Since He commands that I cast my cares on Him, I can trust that he will take care of them and give me wisdom on what I am to do.

Philip

Watch Your Language

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. Ephesians 5:4

The Message paraphrase puts it this way: Though some tongues just love the taste of gossip, Christians have better uses for language than that. Don't talk dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn't fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect.

This verse came up in a Bible study I went to last night. The subject was something else but it made me think about my language.

I can be very negative. I also make many remarks that are cutting to people. I have been praying for some time that God would help me to stop before I say things like this.

I see from the above verse that I need the language of thanksgiving. That will counter the negative and cutting talk. One of my new prayers is going to be for that. I hope for thanksgiving to become my dialect.

By the way, the topic of the Bible study was laughter. What we laugh at can show the condition of our heart. So, with that in mind here are some jokes I heard there:

Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent.

A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, “I’ll serve you, but don't start anything."

Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: "Does this taste funny to you?"

An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids were nothing to look at either.

I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I couldn't find any.

Philip