All You Need Is Love - Eph. 3:13-21
"And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17b-19
"And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17b-19
The first half of Ephesians lays out teachings while the second half dives into living out those truths. Today we wrap up the first half of the book with Paul praying once again for the Ephesians. Remember his prayer at the beginning, for us to know God better, particularly His power? Well Paul prays for us to be strengthened by that power, but to also grasp something else: God's unfathomable love.
Paul declares that you and I are rooted and established in love. Let's think about this: God created us in His image (definitely shows love), He sent Jesus to be sacrificed because of His love (Jn 3:16), and He saves each of us because of His great love. Your salvation is rooted in His deep love. You are adopted and established as His own child by His powerful love. This is nothing to treat lightly! God's love is described here as "wide and long and high and deep" (think limitless in every direction). It surpasses knowledge - no matter how much you meditate on God's love, you will never fully comprehend it! Are you amazed yet? He wants you to know and think about this love so that you will "be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (v. 19). If we are filled, even over-flowing with this love, imagine the unity and work God can accomplish in and through us. He will do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" (v. 20) and we will be living for His glory.
Pray:
Our Father, You love is greater and deeper than we can ever comprehend. Please help us know Your love more every day, that we would be over-flowing in awe of Your love. Thank You for rooting and establishing us in Your love and for Your glory. You are so good and Your love never fails. Amen.
Challenge:
Meditate on God's great love. Consider as many facets of His love that You can: His creation, perfect planning, sending Christ to make us right with Him, etc. Don't be content with knowing His love the same as yesterday, but seek to know Him and His love more fully today (and every day to come).
CLIMB DAY 6
As our team faces another day, there should be some relief felt. Though today will not be nearly as strenuous as yesterday, it will be a long day. But this long day holds special excitement - they will be taking the road less travelled. Along the Lemosho trail, there is one area where teams can choose to take a different route. This route, taking our hikers to the Moir Hut camp, is far less travelled but well known for its scenic beauty.
Our team will finish trekking across the plateau and enter a land of volcanic rock. The formations they will see are incredible. Here our team will get to see more of our Maker's creativity in designing this mountain. They may even spy elephants roaming across the beds of volcanic rocks. The hike is very hilly and rocky, which could be difficult, but if everybody takes their time and travels at their own pace, all should easily be able to ascend to the Moir Hut camp for the night.
Altitude sickness commonly sets in today. Minor symptoms include shortness of breath and slight headaches. The goal of today's hike, along with getting closer to the summit, is to spend extra time adjusting to the altitude. Other routes would have taken them much higher, but there is wisdom in giving their bodies plenty of time to adjust. Altitude sickness makes this mountain dangerous. People die on this mountain due to altitude sickness, as well as hypothermia and falls (typically caused by the lack of brain activity from high altitudes).
Pray for the goal of today: acclimatizing to the altitude. Pray for everybody to think clearly enough to take plenty of time to enjoy God's creation. Pray for the team to grow in their relationships with the Lord as they experience God’s creation. Pray specifically for Cheryl's lung function.
Paul declares that you and I are rooted and established in love. Let's think about this: God created us in His image (definitely shows love), He sent Jesus to be sacrificed because of His love (Jn 3:16), and He saves each of us because of His great love. Your salvation is rooted in His deep love. You are adopted and established as His own child by His powerful love. This is nothing to treat lightly! God's love is described here as "wide and long and high and deep" (think limitless in every direction). It surpasses knowledge - no matter how much you meditate on God's love, you will never fully comprehend it! Are you amazed yet? He wants you to know and think about this love so that you will "be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (v. 19). If we are filled, even over-flowing with this love, imagine the unity and work God can accomplish in and through us. He will do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" (v. 20) and we will be living for His glory.
Pray:
Our Father, You love is greater and deeper than we can ever comprehend. Please help us know Your love more every day, that we would be over-flowing in awe of Your love. Thank You for rooting and establishing us in Your love and for Your glory. You are so good and Your love never fails. Amen.
Challenge:
Meditate on God's great love. Consider as many facets of His love that You can: His creation, perfect planning, sending Christ to make us right with Him, etc. Don't be content with knowing His love the same as yesterday, but seek to know Him and His love more fully today (and every day to come).
CLIMB DAY 6
As our team faces another day, there should be some relief felt. Though today will not be nearly as strenuous as yesterday, it will be a long day. But this long day holds special excitement - they will be taking the road less travelled. Along the Lemosho trail, there is one area where teams can choose to take a different route. This route, taking our hikers to the Moir Hut camp, is far less travelled but well known for its scenic beauty.
Our team will finish trekking across the plateau and enter a land of volcanic rock. The formations they will see are incredible. Here our team will get to see more of our Maker's creativity in designing this mountain. They may even spy elephants roaming across the beds of volcanic rocks. The hike is very hilly and rocky, which could be difficult, but if everybody takes their time and travels at their own pace, all should easily be able to ascend to the Moir Hut camp for the night.
Altitude sickness commonly sets in today. Minor symptoms include shortness of breath and slight headaches. The goal of today's hike, along with getting closer to the summit, is to spend extra time adjusting to the altitude. Other routes would have taken them much higher, but there is wisdom in giving their bodies plenty of time to adjust. Altitude sickness makes this mountain dangerous. People die on this mountain due to altitude sickness, as well as hypothermia and falls (typically caused by the lack of brain activity from high altitudes).
Pray for the goal of today: acclimatizing to the altitude. Pray for everybody to think clearly enough to take plenty of time to enjoy God's creation. Pray for the team to grow in their relationships with the Lord as they experience God’s creation. Pray specifically for Cheryl's lung function.