This one may be a little long. I have so much to say and don’t really know how to say it, or how to shorten it. So I am not really worried about word count tonight. We run through life and, if we are blessed enough, we meet many people, make a number of acquaintances and are gifted with a few close friends. In rare instances these friends become family; not “like” family, but true—in your heart—family. There is a bond and love that cannot be explained. It is just there in your heart.
I have been blessed enough to have two people in my life that are second moms to me. I just spoke to my friend that lives in Nevada. She and I have shared so much life in the past thirty-plus years. We have shared my nieces and nephew being born, fun life experiences on both ends, her grand babies getting all grown up, relationship ups and downs on my side, fun visits that have been too few and far between, her downsizing, and loss…deep, aching loss on both sides. We may be on opposite sides of the country, but we have shared a lot of life together. She has been a picture of grace and love to me.
I called my friend today for Christmas. She is going through a tough time right now. She sounded weak, but tried to hide it. I love hearing her sweet voice. It makes me smile…always. I’m trying to think, somehow, of a way to express what she means to my life. When our friendship first began she started calling me Sweet Pea. I loved it. I thought it was just one of those pet names that you call younger people that you are fond of.
Our relationship was close at first because we worked together. I spent about three months with her in a little basement apartment in Maryland. We were both working in the DC area and she didn’t want me to be in a hotel or an apartment by myself. That time cemented our friendship. It became even stronger after we were no longer working together. I made a number of cross country flights to visit. She became family.
It has only been within the past five years or so that I learned where the name “Sweet Pea” came from. We were on the phone one day and she says, “Do you want to know why I call you Sweet Pea?” Of course, absolutely I did. She said when she was a young girl growing up that her mum had Sweet Peas (the flowers) growing outside her door and their fragrance was always there at the door, coming and going. She told me that the very first time she met me, I brought that memory to mind for her. She said the perfume I was wearing smelled just like those Sweet Peas in her mum’s flower garden. So, in her mind…and eventually her heart, I became her Sweet Pea. She has always called me Sweet Pea from that time forward.
I am not certain how much longer my dear friend will be present on this side of “home.” I do know that I wish I had the words to tell her what a special place she has had in my life, and will for eternity have in my heart. She is a gift from God to me. I cherish the times together and the conversations we have shared. My deepest desire in this present time would be to get to hug her neck one more time and tell her how very much I love her.
Do you have a relationship like this in your life? As sweet as this relationship that affects my earthly heart is, there is an even greater relationship that I have that affects my eternal heart. That is my relationship with Christ. Oh, if you could understand and feel the grace and love that He has to offer!
Paul had a lot to say about love within the Body of Christ. Notes within The Life Application Study Bible tell us that Paul and his associates established a church in Ephesus and spent quite a bit of time there. The letter to the Ephesians within the Bible was one of encouragement in which Paul tells them how the church should look and how the members should work to be the Body of Christ for others to see.(1)
Toward the end of Ephesians Chapter 3, in verse 3:17, Paul expounds to them his desire that by faith, Christ would dwell with their hearts and that they would have a strong foundation centered by love for each other.
He tried to give them an idea of how massive and indescribable God’s love was for them. It far surpassed the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of anything they could imagine. His desire was that they could comprehend the love of Christ that overwhelmed human knowledge. He wished for them to be totally and completely filled with the fullness of God.
The last two verses of this chapter were a sort of doxology, or praise given to God. His praise was to the God that could do absolutely anything through the power He gave His Church, more superabundantly than they could ever think, imagine or ask for. Paul finished by giving all glory to God in the Church through Christ Jesus…through all the ages to the world and that it would never end! Amen!
What is the challenge of this passage for those of us that are called to follow Christ? I believe the biggest challenge for our times might be to get to the place where we sincerely contemplate “what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of the love of Christ.” Then the follow-up challenge could be to get ourselves in position to show that grace and love to others.
How can we apply this passage to our lives? Paul tells the followers at Ephesus to be filled with the love of Christ. Jesus is more specific in John 13:34-35 (KJV)
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
As Christ followers, for application, how could we do any less than have grace and love for each other?
My faith is strengthened with the knowledge that this passage also applies to my life in Christ and knowing that He fills me with love to give away to others. The fact that I can look toward understanding the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of His love gives me even more confidence in what an unimaginably huge God I serve. Ah, the grace and love that will carry me toward home!
Lord, my emotions are all over the place right now. I am thankful that You are the strong, safe hiding place that I can run to and that you will wrap me up in Your strong and safe arms. I ask that You will surround my precious friend completely with Your comforting Presence, and Your grace and love.
To my precious friend, I love being your Sweet Pea and I carry it as a priceless gift!
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“17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:17-21 (KJV)
“For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9 (KJV)
“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;” Colossians 1:10 (KJV)
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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about my Jesus.
What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe? Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him? You can know Him. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity. You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.
Here is an excellent website that can give you additional information about making your decision for Jesus Christ! PeaceWithGod.net
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Blog Image by Sabine van Erp from Pixabay
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(1) The Life Application Study Bible, King James Version, The Life Application Study Bible, 3rd Addition, Tecarta. Inc., 2021, Ephesians Information Tab
Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 