Day 29 – It’s in the Prepositions

I’ve always had a fascination for prepositional theology, that is, theology that is oriented around prepositions.

At one point, I even suggested a series of six prepositional statements that could be a contemporary expression of what we in The Christian and Missionary Alliance call the Fourfold Gospel – Jesus our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King. It was not enthusiastically welcomed. I understand why.

Still, verses like 1 John 4:9 invite us to think of the Christian life through the lens of a preposition.

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” (“Through” can also be used as an adverb or adjective. But here it is used as a preposition.)

Among many other verses, here are just two more that contain meaningful prepositions.

“And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:15).

“He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him” (1 Thessalonians 5:10).

Christ died for us that we may live THROUGH him, FOR him, and WITH him!

These simple prepositions provide for me rich content for meditation and reflection.

Throughout the day, I can chew on a two-word phrase that captures my mind and enthralls my heart in the presence of God.

Bumble bees like Donna’s flower garden.

A bee flies onto a flower, sinks down into the flower, and extracts all the nectar and pollen that it can carry. The bee flies in empty and flies out full.

That’s how I want to meditate on God’s Word. As I hunger for God, I fly in empty. Prepositions help me fly out full.

Action Step: Carry a two-word phrase with you today – THROUGH him, FOR him, or WITH him.

This is God’s Word for you today,
Pastor Dave