The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you. (II Corinthians 13:14 The Message)
Fear Not… Then Enjoy God’s Adjectives
I laugh at some of the adjectives, implied or actual, that advertisers use to impress us. Our laundry, with THIS detergent, will be SUNNY bright. Our drives, with THIS car will be exhilarating. Our experience, with THIS product will be unique, unlike anyone else’s.
But perhaps, unwittingly, those advertisers are mimicking God’s Word.
Hidden within the Greek vocabulary of most of Paul’s concluding words in his epistles, are adjectives.
It is not simply grace, it is amazing grace. It is not simply love, it is extravagant love. It is not merely fellowship, it is intimate fellowship.
These adjectives are hidden because the nouns grace, love, and fellowship are also used in common situations. But God’s grace, God’s love, and God’s fellowship are exponentially more than any of our graces, loves, and fellowships.
And I am glad.
Because our grace becomes tainted, untrue, and weak… but God’s does not. Because our love fails, turns sour, and drifts into selfishness… but God’s does not. Because our fellowship becomes self-directed, entertainment oriented, and dull… but God’s does not.
God’s relationship with us, secured and held fast by Christ’s bloody sacrifice, is the ideal that we yearn for in all of our relationships. But our efforts fall short. Sometimes we avoid deep relationships, in fact, because they haven’t turned out as we’d hoped, on both the giving and receiving sides.
When that happens, remember that there IS amazing grace, extravagant love, and intimate fellowship.
All in Jesus’ arms.
Fear not, then enjoy God’s adjectives.