Downsizing, one size fits all, energy efficient, cost effective, on and on it goes.   These are terms frequently heard in a culture who is coming to terms with limited resources.  This is fine (albeit extreme in some cases but that is another discussion), when we are considering natural things, but it does not translate to a discussion of a supernatural God.  Yet it seems to be a common approach to the administration of the Kingdom of God.  We tend to be conservative.  We are reminded to be careful.  We have Christian programs with titles promoting balanced living.  We are cautioned not to get too excited and not to get carried away (or horror of horrors, in the flesh).  By all means, don't offend anyone.  This is the unspoken cardinal rule, even in the church.  What about the devil?  Are we allowed to offend him?  Oops, there I go getting radical again.   Pardon me.  It's just that when I read things like Ephesians 4:20, Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen., all those warnings pale in the reality of an EXTRAVAGANT GOD.  Everything about Him is extravagant.  He is extreme in all His ways; extremely good and glorious.   In 1 John 3:1 we are reminded of the amazing love the Father has lavished on us.  When I consider the plan of salvation, God becoming man, a baby no less, I am completely amazed by the Lord who is so passionate about people, that He spared absolutely no expense in bringing us to Himself.   

What am I trying to say?  I am saying that every limitation is set on our end.  In the Matthew chapter 9 we read of two blind men who came to Jesus seeking healing.  Jesus asked them if they believed he was able to do it.  When they responded in the affirmative, he said, "According to your faith will it be done to you," and their sight was restored to them.  In this one chapter we see Jesus confronting doubt, disease, demons, death, and religious tradition.  These are the same dark powers that challenge the Kingdom of God today.  Jesus gave no place to these inferior forces.  Rather he overcame them by the power of the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit that now resides in us.  He is in us for the same purpose, to destroy the work of the devil and demonstrate a superior reality, the Kingdom of Heaven, which is indeed at hand. 

Who limits God?  The natural man, the carnal nature, the pseudo intellectual, the fearful, those comfortable with the status quo.  Those who have 'a destination doctrine', they major on going to heaven exclusively rather than our assignment to bring heaven here and now.   And yet the truth is God will not be limited.  Not by your intellectual reasoning or even your understanding of His word.  You can't minimize Him.  He has always been out of the box.  And so while we foster nice, safe, comfortable, culturally acceptable Christianity he is asking, 'When I come back will I find faith . . .'?  For the eyes of the Lord roam to and fro throughout the earth seeking those who will engage Him . . . (my take on 2 Chronicles 16:9).

Finally, I'll share a testimony from our family that happened last Thanksgiving 2007.  Our family had gathered together at the home of my parents in eastern Kentucky.  It was the Saturday night after Thanksgiving and we all went to Walmart (Americana at it's best).  We had been shopping for a little while when my daughter Amanda and son-in-law Jason, who were newlyweds of 5 months, approached me with the very distressing news that she had discovered one of the diamonds in her wedding set was gone.  They didn't know when it went missing or even where it was lost since she had just in that moment noticed it.  In other words, it could have been lost at the house, in the van, in the driveway or parking lot of Walmart, or of course, Walmart itself.   Without really thinking about it, I said, "We are getting it back."  We stepped into the nearest aisle and prayed, next we commanded the diamond to come back.  Yes you heard me right.  We spoke to the object and commanded it to come back to us.   We separated and began walking throughout this Super Walmart looking for this "needle in a haystack" as one of my children described it.   Let's just say he was not operating in the gift of faith in that moment.  But I was on a mission.  That diamond was coming back.  We had made a declaration and it was coming to pass.  About an hour later, sure enough I spotted it on the floor of the pharmaceutical aisle.  I had recovered it!!   The smile restored to my daughter's face was all the reward I needed for this miracle of supernatural recovery.   This is one of our family stories, demonstrating the goodness of God and the willingness of God to engage with us according to our faith. 

Let's determine that we will be bold stewards of the inheritance we possess, for all things are yours, whether the world, or life or death, or things present or things to come - all are yours.  And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's (1 Corinthians 3:21-23).