Grasp (verb) – to quickly take something in your hand(s) and hold it firmly, eagerly, to understand something, especially something difficult.
Sometimes we forget.
In the 2011 movie Moneyball, General Manager Billy Bean and his assistant Peter Brand begin the 2002 Oakland Athletics baseball season with a roster built on an untested and untrusted method of evaluating players; one that relies on statistics and probability as opposed to scouting and intuition. The team starts the season on a losing streak that draws the ire of the fans, scouts, a majority of the baseball community in general and the on-field manager Art Howe.
To prove a point and to shake things up, Billy trades the A’s star first baseman to Detroit. Not long after, he enters the locker room and addresses the team as they are preparing for evenings contest; “Everybody listen up, you may not look like a winning team, but you are one, so play like one tonight.”
The team looked bewildered, seemingly unable to grasp the moment. Kind of like, “uh, ok.” I’m sure they did not feel like a winning team.
Have you ever felt this way? I have. Responsibilities, disappointment, exhaustion, illness, world events and fear in many forms can lead us to feel overwhelmed and powerless. If we continue to focus on these things, we can forget about the life, purpose and peace that is available to us through faith in Jesus Christ.
In the 3rd Chapter of Ephesians, the apostle Paul prays the following for believers:
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” – Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV
With all that was going on in the early church and today, Paul does not pray for deliverance, prosperity, etc., instead, he prays that we would grasp the width and depth of Gods love through Christ Jesus. If we could just get ahold of this truth of the love of Christ, “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God,” we would always know who we are regardless of feelings or circumstances.
Remember, outward appearances and emotions can be deceiving. You may not look or feel empowered, gifted, bold, or ready, but through the revelation of Christs’ love you are.
One, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp.