Good morning,
Just got back from a wonderful, long time (3 weeks) out in the Colorado mountains. Most of my mornings out there start with reading my Bible, tucked in by the fire with a view of the ski hill. One of the first mornings I was reading in John and noticed the verse, 1:16:
For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received
[all had a share and we were all supplied with]
one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing
and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.
The first line: out of His fullness, just made me stop and think. God’s fullness… can you imagine how big–how full–that is? Our body is a billion parts, the universe is who-knows-how-big just because He can. Not to mention the mountains, oceans, paradise places, that are all around the globe. His fullness is FULLNESS!
Then it says: we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with]. Amazing! He wants us supplied and we just need to receive. Take the present offered and open it!
What do we get when we open the box? One grace after another. Do you know what grace is? Unmerited favor. That means nothing we do earns grace. It is a gift because He is a loving God and wants his children blessed.
Then He gives us spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing. Holy Spirit is power given to each of us who have received His Son, Jesus. We get: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control. He gives us help, wisdom, discernment, talents, gifts, etc. Our spirit is perfect. Think of it: Each of us is 1/3 perfect because of the Holy Spirit in us. All of us have enough faith, we just need to use it. All of us have belief…it is our unbelief that holds us back.
Now it says: favor upon favor and gift upon gift. I really like these: favor and gifts! It is true. When we place our hand in God’s and we are cloaked with Jesus’ rightness with God, we have the Holy Spirit supplying us with good things like favor and gifts which are presents that you get, like on your birthday. A birthday present is special and given to you because you are loved, cared about, and are celebrated by loved ones and friends.
You know what I noticed next about this verse? My birthday is 1/16. I had circled the 16 on the verse in my Bible and then I noticed it was the first chapter of John! It felt like my own special birthday card from Him!!
What a God we have! He loves me so much and I know He loves YOU so much out of His fullness. He sent wonderful new friends and a great Church for us to attend while we were out in Colorado. He connected lifelong friends, too, and family the whole time–some through phones and Instagram. He reveals Himself to us every day if we will talk to Him and read about Him! I know reading the Bible can be old-school. But hey, He is current, all media has His word and teachings! Like the verse says: We have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with]. Hallelujah!!!
Love you, Teri