Weekly Update – 28th July

One of the joys of being next to the coastline is the vast views you get, looking across the sandy beaches and sea, together with what feels like huge skies.  There is a feeling of being very small compared to huge scale of the surrounding landscape.

 

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul uses a similar comparison of scale when he says that with faith in Christ rooted in our hearts, we will have an inner understanding of ‘how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ’. (Ephesians 3.18).

 

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (3.14-21) he stresses to us that Christ works through us to achieve great things.   Through faith, Christ dwells in our hearts and that faith in Christ opens up vast opportunities.  Through faith in Christ we recognise that there is no limit to what God will provide.   Christ works through us to achieve things that are ‘beyond all that we ask or think’.

 

An example of Christ working through people to do far beyond all that we can imagine can be seen in the account of the feeding of the 5000 (John 6.1-13).  Jesus starts with the offering from a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish.  The miracle Jesus performs creates an abundance. Enough to feed the crowd and have some left over.  All from this small contribution from the boy.

 

Jesus could have performed the miracle without the offering from the boy.  But as in many miracles and teachings, Jesus works through people to reveal lessons about living a life of faith for God.

 

The reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and the account of the feeding of the 5000 serve to illustrate that with Christ rooted in our hearts and all we do then our small contributions will be increased in abundance, impact and outcome.   Seeking Christ to be part of our life and with Him working through our lives, we will be abundant and fruitful beyond what we expect or can achieve simply by ourselves.

 

Christ within our hearts.

You bless us with insight,

You call us into Your adventure,
You welcome us into Your plans.
You let us see Your vision of what could be.

Christ be with us.

Amen.

 

Nigel.

Churchwarden.