Everything

There’s a love song that Nat King Cole use to sing - “You’re my everything “. The word ‘everything’ started me thinking about relationships. This then led me to our relationship with the Lord… is He our everything? How would He, we know? Have you ever sang a love song to the Lord? No, not preposterous. He's done that for us! How so I know? Scripture is a love song... how many times does He tell us about love, how to love? Perhaps the question I need to ask is: how do you define 'everything' and do you apply this to relationships?

I sometimes think we only judge value, importance, etc. on the basis of time spent - quantity. When it comes to relationships - do we also focus only on quantity (self-defined) rather than quality? And yes, quantity includes multitasking in the worst definition of the word - when\if we apply this word to our time with the Lord. Distractions also intrude... primarily because we let them. While the Lord is with us always and is available always, there are 'special times' each day that we (should) spend (just) with Him. These times should be 'our' times. Scripture tells us that God looks on our hearts - multitasking is not applicable. 

But back to my initial question - is the Lord your (my) everything? How do we know - apart from quantity? Do we give Him our everything? Do we ‘allow’ Him access to all, everything good/bad/indifferent that is us? Do we give Him time to become involved in our everything? Do we look to Him as our everything? How? When? Yes, a lot of questions to ponder… but it really is important (far more than we realize). Look at the word ‘everything’ - this encompasses ALL, nothing eliminated no matter how small. The word kind of defines itself - if it’s everything then nothing is left behind, not seen.

Once you wrap your head around that - then what do you do? One of the first things is to look at the Bible with new understanding eyes. The Bible becomes more than a manual it becomes your life script, your source of answers, your source to grow from, your comfort, etc.

   “All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for

    instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to

    obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s

    will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity

    and moral courage]; so that the man of God may be complete and proficient,

    outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work." [2 Timothy 3: 16-17] 

 

Do you see anything that's missing from these 2 verses? We have the Bible as a constant aid. And those words were written for you, it is your answer to every question. Too much for you? Why? You aren't expected to know everything all at once, the moment you accepted Jesus as your Lord. We all are in a process of becoming. Process. The point is to be engaged in your own growth and your choice of 'teaching tools' is critical. However, there is also another scripture to rely on as you continue.

   "I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good

    work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ

    Jesus [the time of His return]." [Philippians 1:6] 

This is for/about YOU. It also should tell you that the Lord is doing EVERYTHING He is allowed by you to do for you. There's another verse that supports this thinking.

   "For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans

    for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

   Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your

    voice] and I will listen to you." ]Jeremiah 29: 11-12]

 

How's that for a promise! Where could you get a promise that would be more inclusive, extensive, and with a proven track record? Nowhere. This is the God of the universe telling YOU what 'everything' is that He will do. 

   "...indeed men swear [an oath] by [a]one greater than themselves, and with

    them [in all disputes] the oath serves as confirmation [of what has been said]

    and is an end of the dispute. In the same way God, in His desire to show to the

    heirs of the promise the unchangeable nature of His purpose, intervened and

    guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things [His

    promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who

    have fled [to Him] for refuge would have strong encouragement and indwelling

    strength to hold tightly to the hope set before us. 

    This hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it

    cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it]—

    a safe and steadfast hope that enters within the veil [of the heavenly temple,

    that most Holy Place in which the very presence of God dwells] ..."  

    [Hebrews 6: 16-19]

Everything means EVERYTHING. It is our privilege to, with open hands, give Him our everything. Actually, He knows what our partnership can accomplish far better than we know, and by bringing our everything He will help us BE fruitful which is our best everything.