My Bible Recap plan took me to Colossians last week. As I was rereading this short letter from the Apostle Paul, I kept “tripping” over the words “full” and “fill.” Over and over I saw words about being filled or about abundance.
“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives…” (Colossians 1:9 NIV)
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in [Jesus], and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20 NIV)
“ I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.” (Colossians 1:25-26 NIV)
“My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding…” (Colossians 2:2 NIV)
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.” (Colossians 2:9-10 NIV)
As I read these and think about other passages in scripture I come back to two interrelated ideas: God is FULLNESS and he wants to FILL us. God is full of Love, Joy, Peace, Hope, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Justice, Holiness, Righteousness, and so much more — and he wants that for us. He wants it so much for us that he sent Jesus to us so that we could be filled to the measure with his Spirit.
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and 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.” (Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV)
God of Abundance,
You are full of creativity, compassion, justice, righteousness, hope, faithfulness, peace, love, and so much more. Thank you for your desire and invitation to fill us up with these things so that we can become more like you. Thank you for Jesus who created the Way for us to be near you. And thank you for the gifts of grace you offer to us. Help us to willingly allow you to fill us with Holy Spirit so that we can be known as people who are full of God. We ask in Jesus’s name, AMEN.