Growth is the most astonishing thing. In early spring I planted some sunflower seeds. Three months later, the stalks stood taller than our five-foot-fence showing off its beautiful sunflower faces.  What a powerful allegory to faith! Jesus compared faith to a mustard seed that grows into a full-fledged tree where birds can nest. God plants the seed of faith into the soil of our heart; and depending on our heart’s welcoming state, this seed will develop.

The apostle Paul prayed for the churches he planted. Here is a snippet of one of his prayers (Ephesians 3:18):

“May [you] 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.”

God’s love existed long before the conception of the space time continuum. Higher than our highest expectations, deeper than the deepest mystery, wider than this universe is His love. God’s love cannot be measured; no vessel can contain all of His love. That is why God pours His Spirit into many diverse vessels. And I believe that diversity is needed to more fully express His greatness. As we grow into maturity, our roots grow deeper and deeper into God’s love. We become like a deeply rooted tree attracting all kinds of wildlife. When Christ lives in our heart we attract people and give hope to many.

Darkness is devastating and can rob us of all hope. God is able to shed light in the darkness and help us see the truth. When we let Him in, we experience a change of mind. We are promised a new heart, a more suitable container for His love.

Where does Christ live? Yes, He lives in heaven (if this was your answer), but most importantly, He lives in the hearts and minds of His followers. Christ completes us. We are made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.