Lambano:

Lambano: To lay hold of by aggressively accepting what is offered. (Emphasizes the volition of the receiver.)

What can I say? I’ve been drawn to the word for some time now. It’s a Greek word used 263 times in the New Testament. Many of its uses can be overlooked as easily as if it were a pronoun or a helping verb. But some of its uses make me wonder if there’s a treasure buried there that might unlock abundance and life to a degree I’ve yet to experience. I have less answers and more questions where Lambano is concerned, but I’m finding myself increasingly more comfortable with questions for the way they broaden an awareness of things I previously would have walked past without taking notice.

I talked about the first time I noticed the word in the Lambano blog post. I referenced there some of the uses that excite me. Those who Lambano Jesus are given the right to become children of God(John 1:12). And darkness can’t Katalambano them (John 1:5). Jesus breathed on His disciples in John 20:22 and tells them to Lambano Holy Spirit. It is this same Holy Spirit He refers to as “Power from on High” when He tells them in Luke 24:49 to stay in Jerusalem until the promise of His Father is sent upon them. Matthew 10:41 talks about Lambano-ing rewards for receiving prophets and righteous men. These are the passages that make me want to write “Lambano Life” on the palm of my hand and remind myself all day long to aggressively accept what I’ve been offered.

There are some uses of the word that sober me however. In John 5:39-47, Jesus speaks to the religious crowd about how ready they are to hold tight to the scriptures but fail to Lambano Him. They Lambano glory from each other rather than from the very source of real Life. Equally sobering is Matt 10:38 which says that whoever is unwilling to Lambano his cross and follow Jesus is not worthy of Him. It looks like we can Lambano good things at the expense of imperative things and we can refuse to Lambano hard things to our own detriment.

Then there are passages that cause me pause like Acts 8:14-17. It says that Samaria had received the word of God and had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. But it wasn’t until they prayed for them to Lambano the Holy Spirit and layed hands on them that they began to Lambano Holy Spirit in a way that was tangible enough for Simon to notice and want the power in it for himself. Somehow there is a kind of receiving that is more outward and perhaps more experientially profound than another? And then Matthew 13:20 talks about the man who Lambano’s the word immediately with joy, but having no firm root in himself, he quickly falls away. So while Lambano is good and necessary, we might need something additional to equip us to persevere? These are the kinds of uses of the word Lambano that heighten my awareness and put my heart and mind in learning mode as I study the scriptures, listen to sermons, and spend time sitting in the presence of the Lord.

Lambano. I guess it draws me in because I’m increasingly aware that it isn’t my good deeds or ambitions that bring Life to my soul and transformation to the world around me; It’s His. And yet, He’s invited me to partner with Him as an Ambassador of Reconciliation and a Minister of His Covenant(2 Cor 5:17-19, 2 Cor 3:6). I’m pretty sure that Lambano captures at least part of my calling to receive with aggressive passion what Jesus died to pay for: Abundant Living. If I know myself at all, I know I can’t help but continue to pursue this Lambano Life. I hope you’ll join me.