The tongue of delightful ignorance is enabled by self-righteous oblivion created by laziness, fear, and hate.
Ephesians 3:14-19
When I was young, singing (not very well) in the church choir, we raised our voices to a song named “Deep and Wide”.
I’m sure it’s still sang today, some fifty years later, and will surely linger in the memories of those children when they reach the ripe old age that I now enjoy.
“Deep and wide. Deep and wide. There’s a fountain flowing deep and wide.
Plunge right in. Lose your sin. There’s a fountain flowing deep and wide.”
There’ll be more about the song in a moment but before we delve into that, I’m inclined to provide an explanation of today’s Tiny Words. Big Life. quote.
Yes, it’s deep. But at the same time, if you read it slowly, I hope and pray you’ll find it to be very wide as well.
The “Cliff Notes” version goes something like this: “Some people are so lazy, scared, and filled with hate that they don’t care that their words show prejudice and unrighteous judgement of others.”
To some degree, at times, we’re all guilty of that – which is not a good place to be.
The Fountain of God’s grace, given to us freely by acceptance of the blood of Jesus Christ, washes us from the filth and guilt of sin. After plunging in, we should be broken by sin, not living in oblivion to it while thinking our ways are justified because of our own laziness, fear, and hate.
When we reject the Fountain of God’s grace, the Evil One steps in and makes the things of this world appear to be very deep and very wide.
It’s easy to get caught up in it…
Today’s Tiny Words. Big Life. Bible verse comes from the Apostle Paul – written from prison where he’s in chains for the sake of God’s kingdom and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
He’s writing to the church at Ephesus, giving them background on his purpose and what he wants for them. He prays that they’ll use the power of the Holy Spirit and realize how deep and wide is the love of Jesus – and for them to be filled with the fullness of God.
Although that was over two thousand years ago, we can still do that today. When we experience the fullness of God, we don’t live in oblivion. We are not to be filled with self-righteousness, hate, and fear. We live to serve others and love all His children. We don’t embrace prejudice of any kind.
By the way, if you choose not to live in that fullness, the Evil One will be more than willing to give you a full measure of what the world has to offer, gleefully rejoicing at your rejection of God’s grace.
The Tiny Words. Big Life. takeaway is this: Pray to be filled with the fullness of God’s grace through the acceptance of the blood of Jesus. Pray to live your life empowered by the Holy Spirit showing love and compassion to all people while bringing others into the Fountain of God’s salvation.
It’s your choice because God has offered His fountain to everyone.
You can either accept His offer or go the other way – which by the way, will plunge you into the fountain of the eternal Lake of Fire where you’ll find it to be very deep, very wide, and very hot.
Ephesians 3:14-19
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 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, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Preach! 🙌🏼✋🏼❤️