Faster, Higher, Stronger

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Happy New Year!

2012 is, of course, an Olympic Year and so I’d like to issue an challenge in this first post of 2012. It’s inspired by the Olympic motto – “Citius, Altius, Fortius” which is translated “Faster, Higher, Stronger”. 

This motto reminds me of Ephesians 3:14-19, in particular verse 18:
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

The love of Christ is beyond measure. For some, that means that any attempt to “know” that which “surpasses knowledge” is futile, and so you may as well give up at the outset. I have to say I’m a little more of a “glass half-full” kind of guy. I’m not the sort of person who says “I won’t bother trying because it probably won’t happen”. Rather, I’m generally optimistic in my approach to life and so I’ll tend to say “I’ll give it a go because it just might work.” So, when it comes to “knowing the unknowable” I’d rather “fail in attempting” than “fail to attempt”.

So, in this Olympic year, my challenge to you is this – dive deeper into the love of God, seek to climb its heights, run its length and traverse its width. 

Go for a personal best! 
A new world record! 
For the gold medal! 

Why?

“…so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” You can choose to be a spectator, sitting on the sidelines, cheering on the others. Or you can strive for “greater things” (John 14:12).  The choice is yours, the challenge is set.

Faster, Higher, Stronger!
Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen. 

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