God is MORE!

I was shopping at one of those “big box” stores recently. I don’t suppose it would be right to mention the store's name here, but let me just say that it rhymes with “Fostco” (hopefully you can crack the code). Because I have a strong affinity (sounds better than that ugly word “addiction”) to this store, and because of the insane price of goods, I have realized that I need to curb my spending. You know, be more wise, less impulsive. More frugal, less spendy. Make Dave Ramsey proud and all that jazz.

Side note and a little background: I realize that stores have all kinds of cunning and manipulative ways of leading their customers to buy more stuff without even knowing it. It’s a whole thing and I know, because a man who works at… rhymes with Rome Kepot” told me! He practically gave me their whole playbook on how to bankrupt the general public, one lawn mower at a time!

Anyway, knowing this diabolic scheme, I decided to “stick it to the man” by pulling an empty box off the shelf (I’m back at Fostco now, try to keep up) and I resolved that I would only purchase what could fit in the box. Genius, right? Had to be God, because frankly, I”m just not that smart and I definitely don’t have good spatial reasoning skills. So there I was, walking through the store, coveting those with large shopping carts that suddenly seemed to shimmer and shine as if mocking me. I was awkwardly stumbling through the store with a box (with no substantial sides, by the way- totally impractical), feeling all kinds of feelings. At one point, I nearly impaled myself with the corner of the box as I swerved, trying not to run into another shopper. Then, I kid you not- I am not making this up- a young man employee came strutting down a main aisle, right in front of me, in slow motion (okay, I made the slow motion part up), pushing a cart stacked high with….wait for it….. empty boxes. Bigger boxes. Better boxes. I became acutely aware that the box I picked was not enough.

I wanted more.

Isn’t that just how we are? I consider myself to be fairly content. Not really materialistic, at least not compared to other fallible human beings (how convenient). But the truth is, I’m always searching for more in some area of my life. It may not be stuff, but that nagging feeling of wanting more is always there. Pulling and tugging and being annoying.

What if God is the more we are looking for? There’s an old song with lyrics that say, “Looking for love in all the wrong places.” What if we’re looking for more in all the wrong places? God is both, actually- He is love, and He is more! Talk about your one-stop shop!

Perhaps step one is acknowledging this place that longs for more. I believe God put it there to draw our hearts to His.

He is more. He is God and we are not. He is unrivaled and unmatched, yet He desires a relationship with me. With you! Let that sink in.

God, who created the heavens and the earth and who also desires a relationship with us, is so much higher than we are, but He is also accessible to us! He’s not like the Kings of old, requiring a formal appointment in order to approach His throne, lest His subject be killed. Scripture tells us that because of what Jesus did on the cross, that if we are followers of Him, we now have access to approach God’s throne of grace boldly- 24/7/365/(366 on a leap year)!

While we can approach God with boldness because of Jesus and we can see God as a friend as well as a perfect Father, we sometimes unwittingly attempt to” grab God by His ‘legs’ and pull him down to our level” (credit to Pastor Jim Piper who said this years ago and it really stuck with me). In doing so, we sometimes inadvertently see God as our equal, which is not only false and futile thinking, but it can really do a number on our faith!

As Pastor Bruce said in his most recent sermon, we tend to think of the person we admire most in life then think of God as just a little bit better than them. A little bit higher. A little bit stronger. But the truth is, our God is so much MORE! More than we can fathom! God is also patient and merciful. He understands our limitations and even our habits. After all, in our finite state, it’s no wonder we go with what we know. That is, to treat God like those we love in the natural realm and to attach the same limitations to Him.

Thankfully, God has no limits! Here are just a few of HIs many awesome traits:

He is immutable (never changing). He is not moody or fickle.

He is uncreated and eternal. No beginning, no end. The fact that we can’t even wrap our feeble minds around this idea should be enough to make us stand in awe of Him.

He is omniscient. Everywhere at once at all times. Soccer moms, you thought your schedule was busy, try that on for size!

He is omnipotent. All powerful. Nothing is too difficult, heavy or impossible for Him.

So while God is all these things, He is also accessible. Present. Willing to listen. It’s important that we realize the whole truth: that He is more and also that He is reachable. He is the whole package!

That flimsy, no-sides-having box I was awkwardly toting around “Fostco” wasn’t enough, structurally speaking. It was a struggle. I needed more (help, not stuff). Cool thing is, it succeeded in teaching me some much needed lessons, not only in shopping and budgeting, but in my spiritual life. It showed me my own limitations on many levels and more importantly, it reminded me that I have a limitless God who is more!

Lord, we acknowledge that you are so much more than we can even fathom. You are holy (set apart), perfect and pure. You are all-knowing, all-powerful and you reign supreme above all other rulers, God. Yet you are also tender, kind, loving, patient, forgiving and gentle! God, help us to see you for who you are in all your glory and all your goodness. Thank you that you are always there to listen and that you don’t shoo us away, having more important tasks to tend to. Thank you that you love to hear from us, to walk with us and do life with us! God, may we not compartmentalize you or our walk with you, but may we incorporate you into every moment, every decision and every thought as we go about our days. Thank you for being more! In Jesus’ name, amen.