The concept that the love of God does not run out has come up a few times recently. Someone remarked 'When someone gets a blessing, that does not mean they've taken something you otherwise could have had. God does not work like that.'
I think this point is illustrated in the feeding of the five thousand. In Matthew 14:13-21 Jesus takes five loaves and two fish and turns it into dinner for five thousand people. The disciples collected twelve baskets of left overs! Despite illustrating that this wasn't just one meal cut up really small, the leftovers, I think, demonstrate something of the abundance in the heart of God. With Jesus, we needn't worry that there won't be enough, we can expect Him to deal with us abundantly.
This is so contrary to the way I think sometimes. I've spent a lot of my time hosting worrying about whether I've made enough food and if I'm honest, anticipating the shame I would feel if I hadn't.
I've often worried that we wouldn't have enough money to do the things I dream of. Sometimes it feels like my dreams are just out of reach. That there isn't quite enough. My own experience of how the world can work means I can project this onto God. Not often consciously, but I'm only just starting to learn how to pray with the expectation that God won't leave me high and dry, just short of the mark. How many of us won't take risks for Him because of this mentality?
As I wrote this, I became unsure of my conclusion. Does God really deal with us abundantly? Praise God for the internet (for real), a quick google search squashed any doubt I had.
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!
Psalm 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Psalm 65: 9-13
You visit the earth and water it;
you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
you provide their grain,
for so you have prepared it.
10 You water its furrows abundantly,
settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth.
11 You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.
12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
they shout and sing together for joy.
Matthew 7 - 7-11
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Got it? I'm going to spend a bit of time thinking on these passages, and then I'm going to ask my heavenly Father to help my life be affected by the truth that they bring. I'm praying that He'll do that for you too.
Rach
