“Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20 – King James Version) My genuine hope and primary purpose for the Ephesians 3:20 Faith Encouragement and Empowerment Blog is to assist all people of faith, regardless of your prism of experience, to grow spiritually toward unconditional self-acceptance and develop personally acquiring progressive integrity of belief and lifestyle. I pray you will discover your unique purpose in life. I further pray love, joy, peace, happiness and unreserved self-acceptance will be your constant companions. Practically speaking, this blog will help you see the proverbial glass in life as always half full rather than half empty. I desire you become an eternal optimist who truly believes that Almighty God can do anything that you ask or imagine.

Monday, July 25, 2011

God's Overflowing Love

God’s Overflowing Love


In the immortal 23rd Psalm, David paints a vivid picture of God’s limitless love.  “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Imagine a priceless, golden goblet adorned with incalculable jewels and embossed with divine imagery.  Envision its contents of ageless wine possessing an indescribable sweetness.  Visualize the constant flow of this rich wine regardless of your consumption.  Similarly, God’s love overflows into our lives.  Despite our inability to appreciate its eternal worth inestimable benefits, God’s love gushes into our hearts like the mighty waters of Niagara Falls.

Several biblical writers utilize wine imagery to demonstrate the gospel greatly surpasses the water of the Law.  The Johannine evangelist uses the wedding at Cana miracle to prove this point.  In John 2:1-11, Jesus turns water into wine.  The wedding banquet attendees deem the wine the Lord makes to be better than the valuable wine the host served previously.  Likewise, believers in the Lord Jesus recognize His infinite love exceeds anything the world offers.

God’s love overflows in His faithful provision.  When we reflect upon our lives, we easily conclude God’s unquestionable goodness is the underlying thread.  Many “coincidences” that occurred just in the nick of time were actually God’s benevolent timing.  Times in which we “lucked out” were the fruition of seeds of providence God previously sowed in our lives.  We acknowledge God always provides.  Whatever we need, He has supplies it with exquisite timing. 

As daily challenges increase, often we fail to see the bounty of God’s love.  We look at the waves and hear the howling wind.  We feel the bone-cutting chill of the sea’s tempest.  Other times, we know dehydration that results when living in a desert of misery, strife, and monotony.  Periodic droughts encourage us to “lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.” (Psalm 116:13)  As we drink from the cup, God mysteriously replenishes it.  It constantly overflows into our lives.

Amazingly, God personifies His love in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  His teachings fill the cup of salvation.  The gospel message permeates our lives like a river.  In the same way, God’s love in Christ parallels the infinity of oceanic expanse.  Hence, the psalmist praises the Lord because His protection and care always exceeds the needs of the Psalter.

God also manifests His love through our spouses, friends and other primary relationships.  “Love and feelings are the things that matter most in life.”  Arguably, you have not lived until you learn to love.  In Christ, God offers love that far outweighs fallacious romanticism, lust and sentimentality.  The apostle Paul details God’s agape, the ultimate selfless, sacrificial and faithful love, in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.  To give and receive love as this passage defines it is the ultimate indication of the overflow of God’s love.

Interestingly, once you drink from the Lord’s cup of love, the sweetness indelibly remains within your heart and soul.  Time never erodes real love.  Like invaluable wine, love appreciates and never depreciates!  We who have the wine of the gospel can never forget its unique satisfying taste.  In the occasional droughts of life, we follow the psalmist’s example by taking up the cup of salvation and love.  Through meditation, we recall the sweetness of love.  Such pleasant memories sear through our consciences and penetrate our souls.  Reflections of real love overflow into our innermost being.  We relive the original experiences.  The cup of recollection never evaporates.  We can drink endlessly. 

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)