This past Wednesday, my son and I attended youth group at The Vineyard for the first time. Everyone was welcoming from start to finish. When we arrived, the youth pastor – Pastor Abi – introduced herself and some of the students to us. Then, we played tag football outside and went inside to to finish with some games, a sermon, and imaginative prayer (that’s for another post).
Pastor Abigail preached on Ephesians 3:14-21. She talked about the importance of being rooted in the love of God to face life’s storms. She encouraged everyone with the idea that whatever we are going through, we can be confident that God loves us. Here is the text:
14 It is for this reason that I bow my knees before the Father, 15 after whom all families in heaven above and on earth below receive their names, and pray:
16 Father, out of Your honorable and glorious riches, strengthen Your people. Fill their souls with the power of Your Spirit 17 so that through faith the Anointed One will reside in their hearts. May love be the rich soil where their lives take root. May it be the bedrock where their lives are founded so that together 18-19 with all of Your people they will have the power to understand that the love of the Anointed is infinitely long, wide, high, and, and deep, surpassing everything anyone previously experienced. God, may Your fullness flood through their entire beings.
20 Now to the God who can do so many awe-inspiring things, immeasurable things, things greater than we ever could ask or imagine through the power at work in us, 21 to Him be all glory in the church and in Jesus the Anointed from this generation to the next, forever and ever. Amen.1
Her message made me think: how do we know we are loved by God?
I thought about the times when I wondered if God loved me or if I was even worthy of God’s love. I was reminded of the times I have believed that God’s love was elusive and nowhere to be found. But, I went back to the text later on and something occurred to me: Paul is telling the people at Ephesus that the power of God’s spirit is doing a work by faith in Jesus so that believers can demonstrate the fullness of God’s love.
WOW! Paul is telling us that people experience God’s love in part by how we love one another. The way we show up for each other does make a difference in the lives of others. I must say though: this thought makes me a little anxious; yet, it gives me much hope.
I’m anxious thinking the way I love others may influence how others believe that God loves them. At the same time, I have much hope because not just I, but WE have the opportunity – as a community of believers – to experience God’s love together. We can find God’s love in the midst of all of us sharing life together.
For any young people or youth leaders in Wednesday night youth groups near and far, be encouraged you are participating in a space where people can find God’s love in and through you. This love is a love that has deep roots that ground us and connect us together to experience all that life has to offer. If you are feeling unloved or that you aren’t worthy of love, please come join us at The Vineyard! You will learn that you are loved and worthy of it.
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