Ephesians 3:20a NKJV “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…”
I was recently asked to describe a friend using only three nouns. Now recalling middle school English class (which for me is a stretch), a noun names a person, place, thing, or idea. So, I retrieved pen and paper and began my list. After numerous scribbles and mark-overs, I settled on, “Worker,” “Confidante,” and “Friend.” As I stared at the three, I was disappointed, for they stopped far short of telling her story. She was more than just any “Worker.” She was not your ordinary “Confidante.” And the word, “Friend” was far too vague.
So, I made an editorial decision to break the rules and add in adjectives to better describe the nouns I had chosen. “Worker” transformed into “Dedicated Worker.” “Confidante” became, “Trustworthy Confidant.” And “Friend” was rewritten as “Faithful Friend.” Now the description more accurately represented her.
In scripture, the Holy Spirit also found it necessary to use descriptive words, so he filled the Gospel writers with adjectives and adverbs. Notice the verse above from Ephesians. Yes, God’s desire is to fulfill our needs, but it doesn’t stop there. Our God responds exceedingly and abundantly above anything we can ask or even think about asking. Those two underlined words were necessary for us to better grasp God’s amazing power and His desire to bless us.
This thought led me to a quick search. Prepare to be amazed at the underlined words the Holy Spirit used in describing God.
Psalm 62:7-8 tells us God is our “mighty rock.”
Isaiah 40:8 says God is an “everlasting God.”
Deuteronomy 4:31 records a “merciful God.”
Psalm 116:5 tells us He is also “a gracious and righteous God.”
1 Corinthians 1:9 labels Him a “faithful God.”
Ephesians 2:4 wows us with “His great love with which He loved us.”
Friend, I suppose I broke the rules when I added to the nouns describing my friend. But, I was simply following the example of the Holy Spirit who, long before me, made the editorial decision to use adjectives and adverbs in describing our mighty, everlasting, merciful, gracious, righteous, faithful, and great God.
Thank you, Father, for the many ways You are our God.
Blessings,
Rita Cochrane