The
Message
interprets Ephesians 3:20-21 this way: “God can do anything; you know—far
more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He
does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply
and gently within us.”
Now
that we have started the Lenten Season, it is time to ask ourselves, what can I
do to grow my faith and relationship with God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit and each
other?
Yes,
Lent is a time to listen more to God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit to grow our
faith. But how do we grow our faith and spiritual relationships? Ephesians
reminds us not to be afraid to use our spiritual imaginations, but God is
greater than we can imagine. So don’t be afraid to use our spiritual
imagination. If this is true, can we imagine what God can do for us and through
us this Lenten season? Are we willing to let God work through us in new and
different ways?
Nicodemus
blocked his spiritual imagination with his narrow-minded thinking about how God
works in the world through Jesus. Jesus was doing things that showed God was
working through him on earth. But he could not imagine or see that when he came
to see Jesus at night.
We
are no different than Nicodemus. We don’t want to use our spiritual imagination
because, like Nicodemus, we don’t like to change.
Peter
could not use his imagination in Acts 10:9-19 and 34-35: “The
next day, as
they were on their way and coming near Joppa, Peter went up on the roof
of the
house about noon in order to pray. He became hungry and wanted
something to
eat; while the food was being prepared, he had a vision. He saw heaven
opened
and something coming down that looked like a large sheet being lowered
by its
four corners to the earth. In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles,
and wild
birds. A voice said to him, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat!” But Peter
said, 'Certainly not, Lord! I have never eaten anything ritually
unclean or defiled.”
The voice spoke to him again, 'Do not consider anything unclean that
God has
declared clean.” This happened three times, and then the thing was
taken back
up into heaven.
While
Peter was wondering about the meaning of this vision, the men sent by Cornelius
had learned where Simon's house was, and they were now standing in front of the
gate. They called out and asked, 'Is
there a guest here by the name of Simon Peter?” Peter was still trying to
understand what the vision meant, when the Spirit said, 'Listen! Three men are
here looking for you . . .
.
. . Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize that it is true that God treats
everyone on the same basis. Those who fear him and do what is right are
acceptable to him, no matter what race they belong to.’ "
Peter
finally started to use and understand his spiritual imagination and brought the
Good News to Gentiles and got the church to be open to the ministry of Paul to
the Gentile. God gave Peter a new ministry and worked through Peter.
Can
you imagine what God can do differently with and through you? Can we as a
congregation use our imagination to see how God can do something new through us
this season of Lent?
May
we be open to use our spiritual imagination this Lenten season and do something
new with God. May we share God’s love, hope and joy in new and different ways
this Lenten Season.
Something
to think about and do something about!
Love
you,
Rev. Craig