[Reprinted from January 28, 2022 post.]
“Yet through his powerful declaration of acquittal, God freely gives away his righteousness. His gift of love and favor now cascades over us, all because Jesus, the Anointed One, has liberated us from the guilt, punishment, and power of sin!” (Romans 3:24 TPT)
Water is an interesting substance. We must have a certain amount of it to sustain life, but too much of it can kill us. It can be beautiful as a lake, river, or even snowfall. Or it can be truly ugly as a flood in your basement, ruining your house. Jesus called himself “Living Water,” meaning in part that he gives us spiritual life.
The other night I was reading Ephesians 1 in a new translation and was struck by the word cascading. I’ve studied this book several times but I’m repeatedly amazed at the delightful nuggets and depth that are in the passage. The first part of this chapter is talking about God’s good plans to adopt us as his children and his grace given to us in Christ. But the Passion Translation uses words that explore this from a different perspective – God’s love that “cascades” over us and the “cascading riches of his grace.” When I think about “cascading” I easily go to an image of a waterfall.
I’ve seen several large waterfalls from a safe distance. I have no desire to get up close and personal or even to walk through the waterfall into any caves behind. Honestly, I have a fear of water that leads me to be very happy looking at its beauty from a distance. I’m not categorically opposed to boating or fishing or swimming, but I’m not interested in drowning and all those activities have risk. Instead of risking falling into the river next to the waterfall, I will look at it from a distance, thank you very much.
But.
Maybe we’re supposed to “fall” into the cascade of Jesus’s love and grace.
Maybe we’re supposed to surrender to the Living Water and drink deeply at the well of the Abundant Life.
Maybe we’re supposed to take the risk of running into the waterfall, trusting God to keep us from drowning.
Maybe it’s not “maybe,” but “yes.”
Can you drown in God’s grace? Are you scared to try?
Living Water,
Thank you for adopting us into your family by bringing us to Jesus Christ. We praise you for the glorious grace you have poured out upon us who belong to your Son. You are so rich in kindness and grace! Thank you for our freedom and forgiveness that Jesus’s blood purchased for us and for pouring your kindness, wisdom, and understanding upon us. Thank you for your cascading love and grace that are poured out upon us. Help us to not fear your abundant love and grace, but to fully embrace all you have for us. In Christ’s name and with the empowerment of Holy Spirit we pray. Amen
“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.” (Ephesians 1:5-8 NLT)
“For it was always in his perfect plan to adopt us as his delightful children, through our union with Jesus, the Anointed One, so that his tremendous love that cascades over us would glorify his grace—for the same love he has for the Beloved, Jesus, he has for us. And this unfolding plan brings him great pleasure! Since we are now joined to Christ, we have been given the treasures of redemption by his blood—the total cancellation of our sins—all because of the cascading riches of his grace. This superabundant grace is already powerfully working in us, releasing all forms of wisdom and practical understanding.” (Ephesians 1:5-8 TPT)
Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” (John 4:10 NLT)