We live in a world of empty consumerism.  Watch the ads and listen to the false promises in our media.  The world promises glory and gold, but it is only fools gold and it never satisfies in the end.  Everything in this life is a mirage – it appears to be within our grasp but it vanishes away taunting and teasing us with what we thought would make us happy.  How many empty souls are languishing today because they have “forsaken God, the fountain of living water, and carved out broken cisterns that hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13)!

Paul expounds the sufficiency of Jesus Christ as the sum of everything we need for life now and forever in Ephesians 3:14-21.  He speaks of the love of Christ that passes knowledge – that is, it exceeds our capacity to fully comprehend.  The dimensions of God’s great love are so vast and measureless – they stretch our most vivid imagination to fully grasp!  How great is God’s love for us, indeed.  In Jesus Christ, we have the perfect revelation of the Father.  Jesus said that to see Him is to know the Heavenly Father.  His manifest presence into our human experience stands alone as the single greatest love story ever told.  God came into our world – what an incredible journey of humility, compassion, and sacrifice!

When we are dead in our sins, Jesus brings us to life by His power.  When we are afraid, He is our friend who stands with us and for us at all times.  When we are alone, He fills us with His presence bringing songs of joy in the night.  When we are thirsty, He is the water of life.  When we are hungry, He is the bread that always satisfies.  When we are weary, He is our strength and our supply.  Nothing in this life can ever separate us from His great love  and nothing beyond this life can keep Him from rescuing us for eternity (Romans 8)!

This coming Sunday, it will be my honor to preach from Mom’s Bible – a tribute to a special lady whose life still influences mine.  I am the youngest of 5 siblings and it is known widely that I am a genuine Mama’s baby boy.  I’m sure that Mom loved all her children – she simply loved me the most!  Her name is Margaret, but everyone called her “Mimi” and the kids all called her Momma.   She raised her five children under difficult circumstances and often with limited resources, but she always found a way to make life better for each of us.  We always had plenty to eat and something special for birthdays and Christmas.  She knew how to laugh and how to love.  She whistled and sang old hymns as she did housework or hung clothes to dry on the line outside.   Mom always worked extra jobs to help make ends meet – often putting in long, hard hours in diners or department stores.

As long as I can remember, Mom was always taking care of her children and helping out with her grandchildren.  She was a joyful and pleasant woman who knew how to make people feel special.  The one thing that motivated me the most was being careful to never disappoint Mom.  She was always proud of our accomplishments and encouraged us to do our best.  Her hugs and sweet smile were always the perfect touch on any situation.  How I miss sitting in her lap and lettering her rock her baby boy – even when I was a grown man.

She left us too early.  At age 62, she fell victim to Leukemia and we trusted her into the hands of the Lord.  I would love to have her sit with us in worship at Faith and sing another song with her.  She never met our baby son, Joey and only knew Jon and Josh briefly.  I know she would love to rock our grandson Jeremiah and teach him the “Little Paper Boy” song.  Wow, just thinking about that still makes me cry.  I am forever grateful for this precious woman God gave to me as Mom.   This Sunday, let’s take time to celebrate Mother’s Day in a way that is worthy.

I will never forget that moment.  It was 31 years ago, but it is still a memory that causes my heart to race and my knees to weaken.  At exactly 7:00 PM on a Saturday evening, April 4, 1981 – the organ chimed and the back doors of the church swung open.  Time stood still.  In super slow motion, the most beautiful bride to ever adorn a wedding gown entered the room and stole my heart forever.  There is something elegant – almost electric about a bride.  This image will serve as the title backdrop for our upcoming sermon series on Ephesians.

The imagery of the bride and groom related to believers in relationship with Jesus Christ helps us better understand the concepts of covenant and commitment.  We have been selected and we are protected by the Lord Jesus Christ.  Before the foundation of the world, we were adopted and accepted according to His eternal purpose.  The “saints” of God in Christ Jesus are sealed by the Holy Spirit and we will obtain an inheritance from the Father.  We are safe and secure in this relationship.  It is “to the praise of His glory” that we have been chosen.  In other words, with this privilege comes a great responsibility – to live as “treasures of transformation” demonstrating His grace in our lives and declaring it to others.

We are sharing an integrated study through the wonderful book of Ephesians over the next 11 Sundays.  My preaching on Sunday mornings is being tracked and enlarged by the teaching of our Connection Classes (youth – adults).  I believe the Lord will use this season in the life of our church family to stretch our understanding of the Gospel and challenge us to greater obedience in the days ahead.  My prayer is that Christ will be exalted and lives will be transformed as a result. O, how he loves us!