Living Life in 4D

 

A few years ago, TV manufacturers were pushing 3D as the latest technology you had to have but it never really caught on.  Wearing funny glasses and getting a little woozy just didn’t seem to be that popular of an idea 😊.  As usual, God has a bigger and better idea, living our lives in the 4D of Christ’s love.  Let’s look at these four dimensions individually and how they fill us to the measure us of all the fullness of God.

 

Ephesians 3:18 - to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ

 

Things to think about:

·       Wide – this covers every facet of our lives, not just the narrow parts we might think of with religion or that we’re comfortable letting God have a say in.  Think too of when you hold your arms out to show how wide something is, you are reaching beyond yourself and touching the lives of others.

o   Are there areas of your life that are easier or harder to accept Christ’s love?

·       Long – Christ’s love for us runs the entire length of our lives.  It isn’t for short periods when we are “feeling it” or a phase we go through.  It also shouldn’t run out as we get older that might lead to us to not finishing as well as we could have.

o   How can we stay in His love so that we do not falter and stumble?

·       High – Christ’s love for us reaches high into the heavenlies where the glory of God resides. It is here where things so unspeakably beautiful are that Jesus showers us with.

o   Paul prays that we might have the power to grasp the four dimensions of Christ’s love for us and this one may be the toughest one to take hold of (at least it is for me) since it deals with the infinite nature of God.

o   Which of God’s qualities are the most mind-blowing for you?

·       Deep – Christ’s love goes deep into our inner being where our true selves are, deeper than we even understand about ourselves

o   The human heart is deceitful above all things, who can understand it?  We don’t even understand ourselves, but our Creator does (and loves us anyway)

o   What are qualities you have He has shown you over time that you were unaware of before? These don’t have to necessarily be bad things!

The passage goes on to say that this love surpasses knowledge.  It is not a thing to be figured out, rather something to be transformed by, to be filled to the measure of all of the fullness of God.

Future Bob

 

I’ve been thinking a lot about Future Bob recently. Future Bob is me in 10+ years who is going to thank Today Bob for trying to get in a little better shape, eat a bit healthier, and have a couple of nickels in the bank for another day. While these are all good things (and I think the Bible encourages them), God is even more concerned with Eternal Bob, so what are some things Today Bob can be doing to have the best outcome for Eternal Bob?

 

1 John 3:2 

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

 

Things to think about:

·       What is Today Bob doing to help out Future Bob?

o   Being more intentional with exercise and diet

§  1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.

o   Being a good steward of our finances

§  The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.

o   Trying to leave a positive legacy for my children and those around me

§  Proverbs 22:1 - A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

 

·       As good as these things are, they are but a mere foreshadowing of what’s in store for Eternal Bob

o   Our bodies aren’t meant to last forever

§  2 Cor 5:1 - For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 

§  2 Cor.5: 4 - …(we long) to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

o   Treasures in Heaven

§  Matthew 6:20-21 - but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

§  2 Timothy 4:8 - in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

§  1 Peter 5:4 - And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

o   Not what man says about me but what God says

§  Romans 8:16-17 - The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

§  1 John 3:2 - Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

By taking care of Today Bob and Future Bob, I can do my part to impact the kingdom for those around me and to the honor of God.  What lays in store for you and me is unspeakably wonderful and should motivate us to make the most of our short time here!

Being There

 

This last weekend, a number of us went to visit a dear brother whose health is in rapid decline.  He has been admitted to a care facility where it seems likely he will see out his last days.  We wanted to go see him to encourage him and as we say Down South, “Love on him”.  Moreover, we felt it was important to let his family know that their husband/father has touched the lives of many men.

 

Proverbs 17:17 – A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

 

Things to think about:

·       As our verse in Proverbs 17 points out, when the chips are down, you really do find out who your friends are.

o   A couple of chapters later in Proverbs 19:4, it says “Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.”

§  We see the same thing with the prodigal son after his money ran out and he wasn’t a cool kid anymore

o   Let’s not be sunny day friends

·       Romans 12:15 in The Message says it really well

o   “Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down.”

o   You’ll notice that we’re not supposed to necessarily have any answers when they’re down, just hold their hand and cry with them.

·       But let’s be honest, it’s not always easy to show up when you’re needed most.  Here are a few well-intentioned reasons people might give for not being there:

o   I don’t know what to say/do

o   It’s awkward

o   Not a good day for me, I’m really busy

o   I’m sure enough other people will go, I don’t want to create a crowd

·       In Proverbs 3, the Bible says we should move past our uneasiness:

o   “Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person.  Don’t tell your neighbor “Maybe some other time” or “Try me tomorrow” (emphasis mine)

o   Wow, that’s a powerful concept – your hand is God’s hand for that person

§  How does that change your perception of the importance of the impact you can have on people?

 

·       Jesus says in John 17:20-23, “I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory that you gave Me, that they may be one as We are one— I in them and You in Me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.”

o   Our friend’s family and the staff at the facility definitely noticed this group of men who came to encourage and pray for their friend.  According to Jesus, this is the strongest testimony we can offer an unbelieving world.

o   Also (and importantly), our friend noticed.  Even though he was unable to speak, his smile and tears spoke volumes.

If you have a friend who needs you now, don’t wait.  We aren’t guaranteed tomorrow and they need you now.