Full

The French have an expression: "Vivez le vie pleinement!", which basically means, "Live life to the fullest!"

I think it would be an interesting thing to do one of those "man on the street" polls and ask people this question: "What does it mean to live life to the fullest?"  Here are a few of the answers I think you'd hear:

• Be goal-driven.  Only you are responsible for your own success.
• "I did it my way!"
• Embrace failure, so you can learn from it.
• Conquer your fears.
• Live to please yourself.
• Live to please others.
• Have a positive attitude.
• Make a bucket list and check it off.

You get the idea.  Some would say that Mark Zuckerman lives life to the fullest.  He developed a product where there was a need, and that product has become wildly successful.  Some would say that Prince lived life to the fullest, but he died relatively young under less-than-ideal circumstances (jury is still out on that one...).  Some would say that Mother Theresa lived life to the fullest.

I guess it all depends on your point of view.

What does the apostle Paul say about a life lived to the fullest?  The Bible's answer is totally opposite to the world's prescription for fullness of life.
Today's text is Ephesians 3:14-19.

14-19 My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

20-21 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

1.  Paul emphasizes that, in order to live life to the fullest, we must first reach out and experience the love of Jesus Christ.  This begins by opening the door to Him and inviting Him in, to possess you, and to mark you as His by giving you His Holy Spirit.

Many people do not want to surrender themselves in this way.  In fact, they go out of their way to avoid what they view as a capitulation.  The rocker, Jimi Hendrix, typified this view when he famously said, "I'm the one who's got to die, when it's time for me to die; so, let me live my life the way I want to."

I maintain that one reason for their resistance is that they have never comprehended the love of Jesus Christ, which is why Paul emphasizes that our feet must be firmly planted ("established") in this great truth.  To be able to see oneself honestly, from hopelessly sin-plagued sinner to reborn, redeemed saint, and all this due to the magnificent love of Christ, is treasure indeed.  Fullness of life begins here.*

2.   Then, Paul goes on to talk about inner strength, something we all need to weather the ups and downs of this life.  The "downs" can steal away that joy, that fullness, if we aren't watchful.  As we open ourselves more and more to Jesus Christ, He works in us fullness, abundance by giving us His glorious, inner strength.  His Spirit works deeply and gently within us.

Although it is the world's way, our glory-grabbing never leads to fullness of life.  Christians, those who truly know Jesus Christ, recognize that all of our dreams are from Him and all our "accomplishments" are through Him.  And, for this reason Paul extols at the end of this chapter, ascribing all the glory - - -all of it - - - to God.

3.   The capstone of fullness of life is praising and worshipping our incredible God for the things HE has done.  Here is where I tend to fall down and lose some of my joy.  I forget to praise Him and thank Him when my tank is running low.  Satan sneaks in with discouragement and despondency. The only way to fend that off is to re-frame, re-focus on God's truths and then to praise Him for His magnificent work.  Look at Paul here - - - he got down on his knees and not only petitioned God for the Ephesian church, he glorified, praised and thanked God in prayer!  What a wonderful example He provides us in the apostle Paul!

Father, thank you that You made for all those who seek and choose You the path to abundant life. To paraphrase Psalm 16:11 - - - I praise You that You made known to me the path of life.  I'm so grateful that in Your presence there is fullness of joy and that at Your right hand are eternal pleasures! In Jesus' name, amen. 

Sources:

Here are some great, classic books on the love of God.  If you have trouble with this first step, I recommend you check out one of these:

1.  God's Love, by R.C. Sproul  http://www.amazon.com/dp/143470422X/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687442&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0849910811&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0ARTXHKD5NTAJ44GD3HG

2.  The Love of God, by John MacArthur  http://www.amazon.com/Love-God-John-MacArthur/dp/0849910811

3.  God Loves Broken People, by Sheila Walsh  http://www.christianbook.com/god-loves-broken-people/sheila-walsh/9781400202454/pd/202454?dv=c&en=google&event=SHOP&kw=christian-living-0-20%7C202454&p=1179710&gclid=Cj0KEQjw3-W5BRCymr_7r7SFt8cBEiQAsLtM8lJ259j7cdPlOZtFmavtBhAgEMuUiTfQcJv428Wp5WQaAnuu8P8HAQ