This morning I was reading the book of Ephesians. I just kept reading this verse over and over again.
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Eph 3:16-19 (NIV)
To know love that surpasses knowledge. How do we do that?
I asked the Lord, how we can know this love. The image I got was of a fist, then an open hand.
A fist can do nothing but defend or strike, it is tight and stays on guard. It has room for nothing.
Take a moment, make a fist, feel the tension in your hand. Do you feel like that on the inside?
But an open hand can touch or wipe a tear, it can also receive the love of God.
Sometimes we can be like that fist, full of anger. At times we can think about the hurt another caused us and be in that anger. And then, other times, we can be angry at ourselves.
The result is the same. We are balled up inside, like a fist.
"human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." James 1:20 (NIV)
The first step is to unclench that fist. To be willing to let go of the anger. Be in a place where you are willing to receive.
A fist can also be a means of defense. I'm not angry, but I'm on guard. I won't allow myself to be open to anyone or anything, I'll defend myself at all cost.
Anger or defense, the result is the same. A balled fist has no room for anything else.
Ask the Lord this morning, are you a fist or an open hand?
We need to be open, unguarded to understand the love of God, and to love others with it.
It's easy, but it's hard.
