Friendship, Vanilla Mocha & Jesus

Today I had a cup of coffee with a friend. Well more that just a friend, a guy that I was in ministry with, worshipped and prayed with and ultimately created a lasting relationship with. You know that friend that you have that you may not have spoken to in a while or a long while but when you get together it is like you never were apart? That's this guy.

Thanks for the coffee buddy, the next one is on me.

We got to talking about what is going on in our lives, the ministry that we are involved in and the relationship that we are continually trying to develop with Christ and realized that the greatness of Christ, in terms of us understanding the full measure of how wide & deep & long & high his love for us is - is lost on us most of the time. Why are we so pitiful? I do not know, but am so thankful that this week focused on Ephesians Chapter 3!

Eric was sharing with me a time when he was searching for a mentor, which led him to a past church and a great discipleship program that a section of focused on Mark Chapter 4 - the parable of the sower. What struck him and the point that he made to me during our time together was not the parable portion of it, but the point that Jesus makes in verses that follow.

First read Mark 4:1-9 --> then check out verses 11 & 12 that is the key...

Jesus says:

"He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'"

Are we be casting out our net so wide that we are wasting the seed that God has given us to plant? Do farmers cast seeds where they know that crops will not grow? Are we reaching the saved or the lost? What is our purpose as Christians, as a study group, as a church? Are you doing enough? These are tough questions that take some time to think about, but need to be noodled.

...And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide & long & high & 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. 3:17-19)

You can catch the link to Eric's blog http://www.ericbeeman.com/.