In 2003, the Crafton family—dad, mom, two daughters, and a son—sold their home and possessions and set out on a sailing voyage in which they traveled 30,000 miles over 83 months. The family says the experience, something not practical or possible for most of us, drew them closer together and made their lives feel more open and spacious. Before setting sail, parents Tom and Kathleen realized that their successful careers and two houses, though providing the external symbols of success, weren’t making for the life they desired. So they headed for open waters.
After Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph took Him to the temple in Jerusalem to be dedicated to God—a traditional firstborn ritual for all Jewish families (Luke 2:22). An old man named Simeon met them at the temple, for he had eagerly waited “for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel” (Luke 2:25). When Simeon saw Jesus, he exclaimed with joy, “I have seen [the Sovereign Lord’s] salvation” (Luke 2:30).
The Hebrew root word for salvation carries the meaning of “roominess.” Salvation is the place where we can breathe free again. It means stepping out from the dark corners and into the sunlit meadows . . . to blue skies where everything’s possible, everything has been made free. Salvation provides spaciousness.
God’s spacious salvation is so vast that it includes the entire world, for it’s available to “all people” (Luke 2:31). When God invites us to receive salvation, He invites us to be made free, to truly live, to embrace His spacious life. Some may think that life with Him is cramped and filled with confining rules and commands. But they’re wrong. Life within God’s salvation is wide open and free by His design.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 8:21-59
More:
Read Acts 13:44-52, keeping in mind the idea of salvation as spaciousness.
Next:
How have you been tempted to view salvation as something that restricts rather than makes your life more spacious? Where do you need to apply the reality of God’s spacious salvation today?
Gary Shultz on July 30, 2015 at 7:27 am
When I was young in the faith and in life, I did view the christian life to be restrictive. I did think that most of what was going to happen and what I would get would be sort of performance based. Like the song “More than you think I am” the gavel in the hand was the forge of life. Hey, it took some years, some failures, no lightening bolts hit, but that same God that forgave and was still interested in me, like the Hawk Nelson song. So I like the family began sailing deeper, yeah, some failures still occur, but I discovered the real side of God’s hand(love) that was for me. I was like Adam and Eve, concentrating on just one tree when many more good things can be experienced by sticking with the Master Gardener. Thanks, a little long.
Winn Collier on August 1, 2015 at 6:43 pm
God’s gracious and patient, huh?
Marlena Graves on July 30, 2015 at 10:44 am
I love the word ‘spacious’. I especially love Psalm 18:19 – He brought us into a spacious place. I am in love with the word, ‘spacious’, when it has to do with God. Thank you, thank you.
Winn Collier on August 1, 2015 at 6:44 pm
yeah, I’m with you. It’s a good, good word.
Ruth O'reilly-smith on July 30, 2015 at 3:08 pm
I love this beautiful perspective on salvation Winn – salvation is liberating, rather than constricting. Thanks! I’m reminded of 2 Samuel 22:20 “He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me”.
Winn Collier on August 1, 2015 at 6:45 pm
hey, I should have used that text : )