Greetings to you in the name of the One who goes before and bids us follow, Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! Another one of those ‘lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer’ – a day to allow God to lead us beside still waters so we can “chill-out” with him. Today I will be praying for you, asking Father to touch your life – body/mind/soul – with a deep sense of well-being and contentment.
I came across a quote that has released a stream of images and ideas. I haven’t got the full meaning and impact as yet, since as you understand – God sometimes creates the manifestation before He gives the meaning. I think that He wants us to use our imagination and spiritual gifts to understand the meanderings of His Spirit. Anyway here is the quote: “Most believers still don’t see the difference between the entrance to the Kingdom and life in the Kingdom. We enter on a straight and narrow road…But life in the Kingdom, which is past the narrow entrance of salvation, is completely different. It’s bigger on the inside than it is on the outside…” – Bill Johnson, Friendship With God.
The thought of Kingdom life being bigger on the inside…whisked me away to a verse: He has brought me into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. Psalm 18:19 NIV…He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved–surprised to be loved! Psalm 18:19 The Message. Then I was led to a description of people finding their place in the Promised Land: They found rich, good pasture, and the land was spacious, peaceful, and quiet….1 Chronicles 4:40 NIV – …looking for pasture for their flocks. And they found it–lush pasture, lots of elbow room, peaceful and quiet. 1 Chronicles 4:40 The Message.
‘Life in wide open spaces…with lots of elbow room’ – those phrases describe a Kingdom way of life which dares us to enjoy all that God allows into our lives. It seems to me that all too often we find Kingdom living a disappointment, something to be endured. I wonder if there are times when we get stuck in the ‘doorway’ to the Kingdom refusing to or afraid to or cautious of — entering into the ‘wide open spaces’. I wonder ii the guidelines for enjoying all that is available and designed to enhance our experience have become limiting , perceived as restrictive.
of course, there is a song…Your love breaks on me like an ocean-And I’m caught up in your rolling seas-In Your love is a place-Like a wide open space-Call me out into all I can be…I found my life in mercy deep-I found Your kingdom on my knees-I found salvation wild and free-When I found You…I will walk on the waves of Your promise-I will walk in Your Word over me-In Your love is a place-Like a wide open space-Call me out into all I can be — John Rees/Matthew Hooper/Sem Schapp. In the love of Jesus is a Kingdom that calls out parts of me that I haven’t even discovered yet. I don’t know…did someone tell us that we can be set free from our sins…and our misconceptions of God…and the stilted stereotypes of Kingdom dwellers who haven’t begun to explore the wide open spaces.
Just thinking out loud on a blog…Be blessed!