In 1996, “The Simpsons” coined an awkward sounding word, “embiggen” (em-BIG-uhn). Their town motto proclaimed: “A noble spirit ‘embiggens’ the smallest man.” Twenty-two years later, Merriam-Webster’s welcomed “embiggen” as: “to make bigger or more expansive.”
Reader, consider: Will we embiggen God/good or Satan/evil?
Tom Trebon, Carroll College President (2001 – 2011), often gave Kiwanis’ invocations. He began: “We are in the presence of God.” How refreshing! God, Trebon ‘embiggened’ our understanding of Your True/Living/Personal omnipresence.
At a recent Kiwanis meeting, I reminded our Club of Tom’s words and prayed:
“God, today we remember Jacob, fleeing from his twin brother, Esau. Esau wants to kill Jacob for stealing his inheritance.
In the wilderness, Jacob takes a rock for a pillow. Somehow sleep comes. God, Jacob dreams an astonishing dream about angels, staircases and You.
Awakening, Jacob declares, “Surely, God was in this place and I knew it not!” (Genesis 28:16)
God, you had Seen. Known. Called. And Blessed Jacob without him knowing. God, Scripture tells us the whole earth is full of Your glory – GLORYFULL!
But do we understand? Like Jacob often we miss You. We live whole days without turning toward You.
And yet, and yet, You know us. Triune God, You number the hairs on our heads.
Friends, then I prayed we and future generations would know we live in God’s presence.
Reader, now we turn to embiggening the dark side.
Hear Scripture: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your ‘adversary’ (literally, ‘opponent at law’) the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” (1 Peter 5: 8,9)
The devil’s restless prowling is worldwide but not omnipresent.
Also, God, only You are omnipotent. And, despite the devil’s intimidating violence, we must resist him.
However, Judas and Ananias did not. They embiggened Satan’s work.
First, Judas: “During supper, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray” Jesus. (John 13:2) The devil accessed Judas’ heart. God, help!
Secondly, Ananias: “Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan ‘filled’ (‘pleon’) your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?’” (Acts 5:3) Holy Spirit, come, fill our hearts!
And Satan’s ‘filling’ (‘pleon’) Ananias leads to Romans 5:20 – “Where ‘sin’ (‘hamartia’ – “to miss the mark”) ‘increased’” (‘pleonazo’ = ‘more, abounding, multiplying’)…. The tense describes ongoing, incomplete action. Thus, as time passes, missing or ignoring the target – offending/disregarding God and others – embiggens. Romans 5:20 could be translated, “Where sin exists in abundance, it multiplies and constantly expands….”
Thus, Satan’s filling a person/culture leads to more destruction, pain, violence, or sin. Ouch!
But, Christian, Paul continues with FAITH: “Where sin ‘increased’ (‘pleonzao’), grace ‘abounded all the more.’” (Romans 5:20) Here four words, ‘abounded all the more’ are wrapped up in one tongue-twisting Greek word, ‘huperperisseuó’ – expressing “not ‘mere’ “PLENTY” but “ABUNDANCE STACKED UPON ABUNDANCE—SUPER-ABUNDANCE.” (Bible Hub)
Friend, backtrack to our forefathers consecrating May 17, 1776, as a Day of Prayer. Two-hundred-fifty years later, grace unleashed by their prayers still impacts us. Wonderful/Gloryful!
Remembering that day, Montana’s Governor Gianforte proclaimed Sunday, May 17, 2026, a statewide Day of Prayer for Rain. Scarce snowfall led to nearly 60% of Montana experiencing drought.
God, You answered.
Unusually heavy – “billion dollar” – rains came across our State. Near Polson, water engineers opened floodgates on the Séliš-Ksanka-Ql̓ispé (SKQ) Dam, discharging 30,000 cubic feet per second or 224,415.6 US gallons per second!
What an picture of superabundant, cascading ‘huperperisseuó!’
“Regardless of how bad the situation around us looks — the grace of God is flowing downstream. God lavishly pours it forth in abundant measure! It isn’t just ‘a lot’ of grace; it is more, more, more, and much more grace! The grace surplus far surpasses the flood of sin!
“Don’t be too surprised if you sense God saying: ‘Pour it on! Keep it up! Keep pressing ahead! Even in dark and difficult moments, My grace super-exceeds the sin of the world.’”(Pastor Rick Renner)
Indispensable George Washington understood. On July 9, 1776, the very day he received the Declaration of Independence, he had it read to his troops. And, as part of his new freedom, he issued an order rejected/neglected by previous authorities – that regimental chaplains be established. (“Sacred Fire,” p. 140) God, Washington depended upon You and embiggened You!
Of course, Jesus, You did too. “On the last day of the feast, the great day,” – a priest walked to the Pool of Siloam, drew water in a golden pitcher, walked back to the Temple altar and poured it onto the altar.
“Jesus stood up and ‘cried out,’ (SHOUTED) ‘IF ANYONE THIRSTS, LET HIM COME TO ME AND DRINK. WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME, AS THE SCRIPTURE HAS SAID, ‘OUT OF HIS BELLY/WOMB/HEART/CORE WILL FLOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATER.’” (John 7:37,38)
Spirit, Jesus’ promise anticipates Your hyper-abundant life giving Presence. True/Living God, Your glory FILLS the earth.
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20,21)
“With ‘great’ (‘mega’) power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and ‘great’ (‘mega’) grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33)
Finally, God, since Your presence ‘embiggens’ Your people, we’ll use ‘embiggen’ to translate Paul’s message to Corinthian Christians: “We have spoken freely to you. Our heart is” ‘embiggened.’ “You are not restricted by us. You are restricted in your own affections. You also be” ‘embiggened.’” (2 Corinthians 6:12,13)
The Greek word here means “to widen, make broad, enlarge.” Here, God’s deliverance/revitalization brings heartfelt, profound, affectionate, reciprocal companionship.
But, friend, also note, the verb is passive imperative! Someone else must fulfill this command for us/in us!
Omnipresent/omnipotent God, Who better than You? Holy Spirit, You ‘embiggen’ the smallest person!
Where sin abounds, grace SUPERABOUNDS!
