One God

Ephesians 4:4-6

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

Paul has touched on the Triune God quite a few times in this book.  Here, he lays it out.  There is One, period.  It’s quite amazing to think the one being could be so much, isn’t it?  Then again, He is God.  I think that sometimes this is what trips us up.  We can’t quite comprehend the totality of His awesomeness, so it scares us and we run away or push Him away.  It seems quite silly, actually, but we do it nonetheless.  It’s part of our humanistic reaction to think that “since there isn’t a human being who can be like that, then it’s not possible.”  Our God is a very possible God, even when we think it is impossible!

A concept I think is easy to overlook here is that we become one with God.  We discussed before that those of us who are true believers.  Those of us by grace, through faith, into baptism (of the Holy Spirit) have been gifted with the Spirit of God: the same Spirit that resided in Christ, the same Spirit that resided in the disciples and apostles, the same Spirit that raised the dead, healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and changed and entire generation is in us today!

What do we do with this Spirit?  We put limitations on it with our limited minds and understanding.  However, beyond ourselves, we have a hope, the one hope of your calling.  We have all been called to serve God in unique and individual ways.  Sometimes we can look at those things and shake our heads in disbelief, “there is no way that can happen, especially with me.”  Our Hope is above that.  Our Hope is in god Himself.  There are things that God reveals to me and I have become quick to say, “God, if that’s what you really want me to do, I need your help because I know I cannot accomplish this on my own.”  This is exactly what He wants from us!

We were talking with some friends this past month about a common phrase in colloquial Christianity: “God only gives us things we can handle.”  This statement is incomplete.  If He gave us only the things we could handle on our own, then we wouldn’t need Him, would we?  If the creation is to bring glory to the Creator by relying on Him for the impossible, then how would that cause us to rely on Him and bring Him glory?  It doesn’t.  Rather, the truth is this, “God only gives us things we can handle, with Him.”  It is absolutely mindboggling to me that our God is so magnificent that He is always willing and able to step in and help us.  After all, He is over all and through all and in all.

He is in us!  He is over us!  He is through us!  Not only is He calling us to do amazing things for the Kingdom, but He is also saying, “here, I will help you through it.”

What is God calling you to today?  There are callings in our lives that are in the moment, daily, yearly, or even that will span your lifetime.  How are you limiting God’s potential with your own human doubts?  What is it you believe God is calling you to that seems impossible?  Chances are, that is exactly what it is supposed to be!

 

 

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