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In Abundance and Excess

Sometimes, as I am reading the Scriptures, it seems that a word just leaps off the page and I just can’t get it out of my mind.  One such word recently was “lavished”.

Before I share some verses to see if it leaps off the page for you, it would probably be good to define the word itself.  Lavish is expending or bestowing profusely; expended or produced in abundance; marked by profusion or excess.

I don’t know about you, but I think that when something is profuse, in abundance and in excess, it is not only noteworthy, but it could also be life changing!  So let’s look at some examples of how the word is used in the Scriptures: 

“Even when they were in their kingdom and benefiting from your incredible goodness that you had lavished on them in the spacious and fertile land you had set before them, they did not serve you, nor did they turn from their evil practices.”  (Neh 9:35)

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight.” (Eph 1:7-8)

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”  (1 John 3:1)

“May grace and peace be lavished on you as you grow in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!”  (2 Peter 1:2)

May mercy, peace, and love be lavished on you!  (Jude 1:2)

The first three verses above describe some of what God has lavished on us, His incredible goodness, the riches of His grace and the great love He has for us. 

The last two verses reflect the desire of Peter and Jude to see others experience some of what God lavishes upon us, His grace, peace and love.

Oh that you and I both would experience His goodness, grace, peace and love, which are all so lavished upon us that words like profuse, abundance and excessive don’t even come close to measuring how much!

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