John of the Cross: New seams

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He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all — how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

“God has spoken so completely through His own Word that He chooses to add nothing. Although he had spoken but partially through the prophets He has now said everything in Christ. He has given us everything, His own Son…

We must then dig deeply into Christ. He is like a rich mine with many pockets containing treasures: however deep we dig we will never find their end or their limit. Indeed, in every pocket new seams of fresh riches are discovered on all sides.”

John of the Cross (1542-1591) in Ascent and Canticle as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 245.

I had safe travels to Wisconsin and will spend time with Tim Dittloff and a group of pastors today discussing ways to help congregations tap “new seams” in the area of stewardship.

Ponder the implications of “new seams” with me.

The more we study the Word, the more we locate new insights, tap new courage, and realize that we have everything we have ever needed and will ever need in Jesus Christ.

And, as John states, we discover “fresh” riches.

They may be new to us and new for others. As we dig deeply into Christ, we explore many pockets and find treasures that, when applied, help people grow to new levels of generous service.

To locate rich pockets and new seams we must deeply into Christ. Are you digging?