SUCH A STRETCH

2: to reach out: EXTEND
3: to extend in length
6: to draw up (one's body) from a cramped, stooping, or relaxed position
9: to cause to reach or continue (as from one point to another or across a space)
10 a : to amplify or enlarge beyond natural or proper
b: to expand to fulfill a larger function
(Merriam-Webster)

About a year ago, I wrote down 27 words. They were written on banners that were hanging in a church I was visiting. I had no direct cause for jotting down the words; I just knew they meant something.

I have been compelled to write about these words now, one at a time. The first one I will dwell on is the word, “Stretch.” Normally, when you hear the word stretch, you think of something being pulled, something spread out. I challenge us to see something differently tonight.

The first definition, ‘to reach out: extend.” It reminds me of the beginning of one of my favorite psalms, Psalm 40.

I waited patiently for the Lord;
And he inclined to me
And heard my cry.
He brought me up out of the
Pit of destruction,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock making
My footsteps firm. (vs. 1-2)

That is how the whole journey starts for all of us. Imagine the Lord inclining to you, extending His mighty hand as a demonstration of His love. The Lord always makes the first move. We just have to be ready and listening, with the desire to say “Yes.”

The next definition, ‘to extend in length.’ The psalmist, David, continues in Psalm 40:

How blessed is the man
Who has made the
Lord his trust,
And has not turned to
The proud, nor to those
Who lapse into
Falsehood. (vs. 4)

We have the next move. We are the ones who need to extend in length to meet Him. We have to rely on His strength, combined with our growing love in Him, to resist the unrelenting powers of this world.

We come to our next definition, ‘draw up (one's body) from a cramped, stooping, or relaxed position.’ David says this,

I delight to do your will,
O my God;
Your law is within my
Heart.
I have proclaimed glad
Tidings of
Righteousness in the
Great congregation;
Behold, I will not restrain my lips.’ (vs. 8-9)

We have to admit, those of us who became Christ followers later in life, or those who are still questioning Christ, that we are awfully complacent in our old lives. It is easy to be cramped, weighed down with the heaviness of this world, and resigned to being relaxed with something that resembles apathy.
But God has something different in store for us. His remarkable love causes us to delight in doing His will. We can no longer restrain our lips.

Next definition, ‘to cause to reach or continue (as from one point to another or across a space)’ David says,

I have not hidden your
Righteousness within
My heart;
I have spoken of your
Faithfulness and your
Salvation;
I have not concealed your
Lovingkindness and
Your great truth
From the great congregation. (vs. 10)

The unrestraint rages on in our hearts. We want to tell people about this new love we have found that is unlike any other love. We proclaim how He has saved us. His truth refuses to hide in our hearts.

To amplify or enlarge beyond natural or proper. David’s witness to that truth:

You, O Lord, will not
Withhold your
Compassion from me;
Your lovingkindness and
Your truth will
Continually preserve me. (vs. 11)

It is not within our natural human nature to have that kind of trust. We have come to learn that it is virtually impossible to trust any other human 100 percent. To have the trust in the Lord that David writes of takes amplification that goes far beyond anything natural.

Finally, ‘to expand (as by improvisation) to fulfill a larger function.’ One last thought from David:

Let all who seek you
Rejoice and be glad in you;
Let those who love your
Salvation say continually,
“The Lord be magnified!” (vs. 16)

That is the ultimate gift of God’s love to us. The truth is, those who seek God will rejoice and be glad in Him. We call the world’s attention to His mighty love and His beautiful stretch.