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    Are you living in the shallow end?

    May 11, 2013

    Ephesians 5:20
    "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us"
     
    There is a quote floating about on the internet that goes something like this:
     
    "It is better to be in the deep water with God, than to be in the shallow water without God"

    3 Points from this short verse and quote:

    1. Difficult times serving God are far better than easy times on our own

    "In this world you will have trouble...." John 16:33. Jesus said these words to his disciples and those following him to prepare them for the times ahead. He was saying, in essence, with me you will go through some rough, deep, and scary waters. He was setting the stage for a choice we all can make: We either walk into these deep waters with Jesus, or we avoid the deep water and its challenges on our own. Serving the one true God in this life is not always going to be the most popular choice, but it will always be the choice that is the best decision. 

    2. God can do more....abundantly more...than all we can ask or think

    Have you stopped to think about the magnitude of this? This is crazy awesome. He is so far above our thoughts and what we ever could say with our mouths. He is beyond what we can fathom. Even if we try to think up some pretty wild and crazy things, they will not perplex God in the slightest. The most reassuring part of Eph. 3:20 is the fact that when we do go through tough times with this awesome God, we know he will do for us more than we could ever imagine. Let's set the record straight: This may or may not mean we get out of the "deep water". We may be in the deep water for a long time. It will be hard, but the God who can do more than we can think will be right with us making us into people we never could imagine. That kind of power gives reassurance that you don't need to know how to swim because God will make sure you don't sink in the deep water.

    A Challenge: Don't be afraid to step into some deep waters

    This last point serves as a challenge for those of you still reading. It is far worse to stay on the fringes of life only dealing with things you alone can manage. There is no growth in wading in the shallow end. Living life by your own power will only take you so far. You have to be willing venture out into the difficult, hard, deep waters of life where you won't be able to swim on your own. The only way you will be able to make it is through the Power of the One who can do far more than we ask or imagine. 

    One Question:
    Are you with God in the deep end or on your own in the shallow end?


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