Not Camels

Camels are ugly and cute at the same time.  They are known for being hearty, ugly dispositions, spitting and for being able to tolerate harsh travel conditions.  They can survive up to 15 days without water.  They can go for several months without food.  I guess no food or water might make me irritable and prone to spit at anyone who happens by.

We aren't like that.  We need food and water to survive.  And we need spiritual food and spiritual water if we are to thrive in the harsh spiritual climate of this world.  How do we accomplish this?

Ephesians 3:16-19 is a prayer by Paul for his sheep in Ephesus.  "I pray out of His glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know that this love surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."  While my English teacher would call Paul's prayer a "run on sentence," I think it is a beautiful expression of God's desire that His people be filled with God's good things.  How does this happen?

It happens when we don't act like camels and survive long periods without food and water.  It is amazing to me each week, how Nicey takes my meager blog (probably not much nourishment there) and somehow turns it into a meal fit for a king!  She, our music team and the people who do all the little things for worship (including getting it streamed out to the world) make our worship better!  I think all of this happens because these people are seeking nourishment (water and food) during the week, as they send their roots "way down deep into God's love" so that His love comes out when we pray, worship, hang out in Sunday School, and live life.

As we approach Easter, I hope we all ask ourselves if we are trying to just survive in this parched world, taking a sip here and a bite there of God's word, God's teaching, God's message He sends each week and God's people through whom God will bless and grow us.  These are all parts of being rooted and founded in God's reservoir of sustaining goodness ... what Paul prays will "fill us to the measure of all the fullness of God."  Do you want that?  Do you have better plans and more fun things to do each week?  We are not camels and we can't do it without God's sustenance.  So come to the well that never runs dry!  Randy