To Encourage You

Ephesians 3:14-19 “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being . . . that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

In the prayer above we see the desire of the Holy Spirit for us being expressed to us through the apostle Paul.  There is a list of things mentioned here, but let’s focus on the last statement: “that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”  I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, “He is full of himself.”  When we hear this about a person, we mean that that person is very self-centered.  It refers to a person who is all about number 1 – himself.  He is quick to use the word “I” when he talks to us, for he wants us to know as much about himself as possible – what he has done, how he thinks, how important he is, etc., etc., – you know the type.  What someone talks about all the time is nothing more than an expression of what he is “full” of – as expressed in this truth from the words of Christ, “Of the abundance of the heart, (the) mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). 

So, here’s the test: we know from the prayer above that it is God’s desire for us that we be filled with all of His fullness.  So, what is our heart full of?  A simple answer: What do we talk about most?  You see, what we talk about most will simply be what we think about most.  If we love to fish, if it’s something we want to do with every free moment, if it’s a passion of our heart, then we will talk about it. It will be one of the first things we speak about if given the opportunity. It will be something that’s very easy to talk about. When we talk about it, we’ll be able to describe our most recent fishing trip – what we caught, who we were with, what bait or lures we used, the conditions, etc., etc. If you love to fish, like I do, you know exactly what I mean.  Of course, there’s nothing wrong with fishing. Even some of Jesus’ apostles were fishermen.  But are we so full of fishing, as one example, that the “fullness of God” doesn’t have much of a place in us? 

If, on the other hand, we are truly filled with all the fullness of God, then it is of this abundance that our mouth will speak, for it’s what we will have been thinking about. It’s what we’ve been experiencing. It’s always on our mind and any opportunity will result in these thoughts spilling from our lips. We’ll be filled with what God has been teaching us, for we’ve been spending time with Him in His Word and in prayer. As we’ve been meditating on His Word, He will be opening our eyes more and more to His wonderful fullness.  His truth will thrill our hearts, so that we will be eager to tell someone.  Our eyes will be open to God’s providential work in our lives, and we will be quick to praise Him to others for what we’ve seen.  We will be people, who, like the seraphim in Isaiah’s vision from Isaiah 6, understand that “the whole earth is full of His glory.” Everywhere we look we’ll see His fingerprints, for His touch is there for us to see if we’ll only have eyes to see it. 

So, perhaps it would be good to ask yourself this question today: What is it that fills my heart?  And then for the answer, ask yourself, “What have I been talking about in the last day, week, or month?” And be honest with yourself about the answer. Maybe it’s a hobby.  Maybe it’s another person – our children, a spouse, or a friend. Maybe it’s our worries, for we’ve been “filled” with anxiety and dread about one thing or another.  Whatever it is, we need to know that the best thing for us is not to be filled with those things (though they may have some lesser place) but to be filled with all the fullness of God. That’s what’s best for us. That’s what puts our loves and interests in anything else in their proper perspective. It’s just that thought that Jesus expressed to Martha in the following words as she complained to Him that her sister Mary was “just” listening to Him speak when, and in her opinion, there were other things she should have been about: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).

Jesus knows the truth that whatever else a person is occupied with, sooner or later that thing will leave us empty – for it is passing away.  But His Word, and His Being will never pass away – and if we truly want a life that is full – or as Jesus called it, a life that is abundant (John 10:10) – then we will long to be “filled with all the fullness of God.”  You see, that’s why He came and that’s what He has made available to all who truly want it – the very wonderful, infinite, eternal “fullness of God.”