Mueller On: Abundance

It's interesting to look at the concept of abundance throughout Scripture, and note in what context it is used. In the Old Testament, it is constantly mentioned with regards to food and water, wealth and livelihood. In other words, God’s people experienced abundance in their lives when He provided for them those things they needed in order to survive.

In the New Testament, abundance is also used in terms of survival and provision, but not quite as often as it is used in terms of grace and the gifts we receive from the Holy Spirit. For instance, Romans 5:17 says "those who receive the abundance of grace," and 2 Corinthians 8:2 says that "their abundance of joy... overflowed in the wealth of their liberality." Then in 2 Corinthians 1:5 "the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance."

I can't help but see all of these things as our provisions. We no longer need the provisions of the world in order to see our God at work in us, but the provisions of grace, joy, suffering and all the other gifts that come from the Holy Spirit living within us.

The world can also see the Lord in these gifts of abundance. Just as the other nations recognized the power of God in the time of David because of Israel's strengths and wealth, the world can now see our God for who He is by the grace that is given to us. No God but ours, the One True God, gives such gifts to His children.

Just as Israel needed what the Lord gave to them in abundance in order to survive, so we also need what the Lord gives to us in abundance through the Holy Spirit in order to survive this world and fight against the evil in it.

Mueller On: Struggle & Peace

I struggle and I try to get away. But no matter the efforts I take, it just continues to pull me down. There are ropes tangled around every part of me. I free my hands from one only to be grabbed by two more. Yes, that’s right, it worsens through my struggles.

But never mind that. I am convinced I can see a way out. I am convinced I can free myself. So now, rather than with just my hands, I begin to struggle with every ounce of my will... with every ounce of my soul. This continues ferociously until I finally break from within. I let go of my efforts, and begin to sit still.

Then I begin to feel a warmth as if there is someone there with me. Someone within my inner self, struggling for me. This force, whatever it is, shows me just the right moves to make in order to free my hands and feet. I begin to feel peace with a world whose ropes are pain and sorrow... depression and anger... guilt and fear. How is this possible? I did nothing to free myself, and yet here I am. I only allowed myself to follow something else.

And then I recall... Christ brings freedom and Christ brings peace.