I grew up in Louisiana with the New Orleans Saints. They played their first football season when I was a very young girl. But it was more than two decades before they had a winning season.
Image from fathead.com
In fact, the Saints were so bad in the late 60’s, 70’s, and early 80’s that the people of my home state called them the New Orleans “Aints.” “Fans” at the game wore paper bags over their heads so they would not be recognized and most people in north Louisiana – including my family – placed their football loyalties and Super Bowl hopes with the Dallas Cowboys.
Forty years ago, few in Louisiana believed the Saints had much potential. They had a long way to go to be considered a “winning” team. But in 1987 they made it to the playoffs for the first time. The team continued to grow and strengthen. Then in February 2010, the Saints won the Super Bowl. Two weeks ago, the Saints’ quarterback, Drew Brees broke the all-time, single-season passing record.
The Saints have far-surpassed the expectations of their fans. The “Aints” have been long forgotten. And the Saints are in the playoffs again this year!
The Saints’ history reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s praise in Ephesians 3:20. Paul reminds us that God is able to do “far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” Yet, our expectations of what God can do in our lives are often way too low.
Are you growing spiritually or is your faith stagnant? Are you experiencing God’s blessings in your life or do you feel defeated? God is able to do more than we can ask or think. He wants to grow us up spiritually into our full potential in Jesus Christ (Eph 4:13, ESV).
Do you want to “get growing?” Then join me for a study through the book of Ephesians
beginning January 18th, right here.
God has plans and purposes for each of us. He can accomplish them but we must allow Him to grow us up spiritually. It won’t happen overnight and we can’t reach our full potential in Christ on our own. In the context of the church, God prepares, equips, and builds us up to make us mature and Christ-like. “Growing Up Together: A Study of Ephesians” will show us how we can grow:
- In the knowledge of God
- In the understanding of His love for us
- And in unity and fellowship with other believers
Let’s get growing together! Next week. Right here.
Do you believe that God can do more than you can even ask or imagine?
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