"Dive deeply!" This encouragement from a scuba-diving friend never took hold in my life. Although I thought about it, I remained content to snorkel instead. The time, energy and risk involved in scuba diving were too much. Diving deeply requires more than a superficial effort, which I was not willing to expend.
Another friend has fascinated me with his passion for stamp collecting. Much of his understanding of geography and history has been aided by his deep love of stamps. I have used stamps to mail letters all my life, but I have never been willing to invest the time and effort required to develop sufficient knowledge in this subject by delving deeply into its intricacies.
The apostle Paul, describing the deep love relationship possible with God, said,
"…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you maybe filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-18 NIV)
We have the amazing opportunity to experience the depths of the richness of a relationship with our Creator. But for many of us, a deep relationship with God involves too great an investment of time and energy, and in the process, God might call us to risk more than we are willing to give. For some of us, other interests divert us from diving deeply into relationship with God. Interestingly, previous deep experiences with God, remembered with nostalgia, can allow us to be satisfied with our present shallow state with Him. As a result we miss the richness of the depth available to us in relationship with God.
Let us commit to invest in our relationship with God, knowing that the experience of the incomprehensible depth of His love will make every sacrifice worth it.
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God…" (Romans 11:33 NIV)
Sharing the journey with you,
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