Christ’s Abundance

After sharing last month about my personal areas of scarcity, I found my mind turning to the opposite truth—the abundance we have in Christ! There are no scarcities in all that He offers to us as His children...only overwhelming quantity. What a comfort!

Extravagant Invitation

I have always enjoyed Isaiah 55 where we are invited to come and delight in God’s abundance (vs. 1-2). God promises abundant pardon to all who come in repentance (vs. 6-7). That invitation is ultimately fulfilled in Christ and all that He did through His death and resurrection. He continues to invite the spiritually thirsty and hungry to come to Him for eternal life (John 7:37,38), full/complete life (John 10:10), and entrance into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9,10). We, the unworthy, are invited to received God’s rich mercy (Ephesians 2:4)!

Christ’s invitation is also for those who are stressed or anxious (Matthew 11:28-30). Who has not felt this during these unusual days? He promises to exchange our burdens for soul rest and His personal care as we release our burdens to Him (1 Peter 5:6,7).

Amazing Transformation

Spring is a time of transformation when the earth bursts into vivid color with the longer hours of sunlight. Isaiah 55:10,11 remind us that as the rain and snow (both seen by many of us this month of May!) are used by the Creator to bring new life and harvest, so God’s Word will accomplish what He has purposed, resulting in much fruit as we abide in Him/His Word (John 15:5). God even goes as far as to say that those who are in Christ are a “new creation”--totally transformed (2 Cor. 5:17)! God’s Spirit uses His precious Word so that we are “transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory...” (2 Cor. 3:18).

We all love to hear stories of transformation; I heard one recently from VOICE Philippines. A student in a large Manila High School attended an after-school Values Class and her life was changed. She began attending a youth group as well as a cell group in one of the churches that sponsored the class.

As some of us look back on many years, we can testify that it is the living God who has been so faithful and allowed us to “flourish”, even bearing fruit in old age (Psalm 92:12-15). A recent testimony from a puppeteer in Uganda revealed transformation of his own life and those to whom he now ministers via puppets. That and a few other things prompted me to use ventriloquism again and encourage others to reach out with this tool producing video clips during lock-down time.

Inseparable Love

Who has not felt for those who have lost loved ones during these days of covid-19 and other situations that have taken lives, some violently! Our hearts ache as we hear of grief and hardship including job losses globally. People in some nations are faced with food shortages forcing some families to eat only one meal a day—scarcity! But, for those who belong to Christ, there is the absolute assurance of Romans 8:35-39: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors (abundance!) through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, not any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” What abundant security in these uncertain times! No wonder Paul spoke of Christ as the “unspeakable/indescribable gift” (1 Cor. 9:15).

Precious Prayer

Have you ever been struck with the amazing breadth of some of Jesus’ promises about prayer—“...Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9),” “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it (John 14:14),” “the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name, (John 15:16b),” to name a few—certainly no scarcity/limitations in those promises! But that's not all prayer does. As the Lion of the Tribe of Judah triumphs in Revelation 5, golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints, are presented to Him (v.8). Prayer is such a privilege and so important.

Recently I listened to a radio sermon from a faithful supporting church, and the reference of Romans 8:26 so touched me, “…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to prayer for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that word cannot express.” The Spirit of God prays for us. Further, the living Christ intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25). What truth for our soul’s scarcity… comfort unspeakable!

Of all topics to be recently requested to do ventriloquism, it was prayer. I chose Philippians 4:6 to share with the children, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything...present your requests to God.” Are these days not a call to believing prayer, whether it is prayer individually and corporately, whether by phone, Skype, zoom, What’s App, etc.? We can be totally confident in God’s overwhelming love, care, and ability to answer.

Jubilant Celebration

Recently I was listening to a CD of Handel’s Messiah that belonged to my late Aunt. In these days of pessimistic news overload from the media, how wonderful to get perspective through hymns and spiritual songs. What abundance in Handel’s Messiah music, and the lyrics from the Scriptures. Indeed God will have the last word, and “He shall reign forever and ever”! There is a day of great joy coming when God completes His salvation and the earth will be freed of its curse (Isa. 55:12)—all scarcity left behind! Even so come, Lord Jesus (Rev. 22:20).