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The little song, "Deep and Wide," reminds me of Paul's prayer for spiritual empowerment in Ephesians 3. We will never fully understand the completeness of God on this side of heaven -- how deep, how wide, or how high and consistently He loves us.
This great love is there for the receiving by anyone and it becomes more and more at home in our hearts as we trust in God, circumstance after circumstance.
Paul called himself a prisoner of Christ Jesus. He talked about surrender, and how he was privileged to serve Him by spreading the Good News. Paul was chosen for this special joy of telling the endless treasures available to people in Christ.
If Paul had not preached the gospel, he wouldn't have been put in jail; but then the Ephesians would not have heard the Good News and been converted either.
Both the messenger and the receivers willingly took risks for their faith in God. When I read of Paul's life, I wonder if I am up to handling such pain that he endured so that God's message of salvation would reach the entire world through me.
Would we sacrifice, deep and wide, to bring new believers to Christ? In the course of general conversations, I have found that people do not talk about our Lord and Savior. I wonder why we don't. Are we afraid of being viewed as a 'dork,' or of being subjected as a "Bible bender?" Is the other person's opinion about us more important than Christ's opinion of us?
What would happen if we asked a co-worker who has a problem if we could pray for them. What would happen if we shared a passage we are excited about with our coffee buddies, rather than comment on today's headlines.
Peer pressure, or fear of being embarrassed, are obstacles that keep us from spending valuable time sharing Jesus Christ with others.
Being rooted and established in God's love brings power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love that transcends common knowledge. We are able to reach over the salt shaker and take the hand of our friend, look them in the eye and say, "I'm so glad to see you today. Let's thank God together for this glorious day and this meal."
No embarrassment. No fear. Simple joy and love being shared by God's children. It takes a couple of minutes to do that, to acknowledge God in our everyday.
Christians are meant to share with one another and with the world, the love they have found in Christ. This deep and wide love is there for the receiving.
Embarrassment is a self-inflicted wound. It does not hurt so much when we remember the Holy Spirit is right there in our breathing as we offer God's love to another.
From Paul's Colossians 2:8, remember that human desires and philosophies can twist Christ's teaching all out of context. It is important to stay grounded in the Holy Scriptures, and not add or subtract our opinions.
Jesus gave us another shot at being what we were intended to be, so we can unravel our complications and move through our lives together just as He did, in gentleness, simplicity, and harmony.
Bonnie Donnelly
First Presbyterian Church, Marietta