A Great, Big God
Opening Prayer
Lord, out of Your glorious riches, strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being.
Read Ephesians 3:14–21
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What are your expectations of God as you look ahead over the coming months and years?Paul now picks up where he left off at the beginning of chapter 3 and tells the Christians what he prays for them. In “kneeling before” and in calling God “Father,” Paul acknowledges both the majesty and the intimacy of God. As the Father from whom all are named, no one is beyond the reach of God’s love.
It is interesting that Paul asks for God’s power to work in their “inner being.” To the Greeks this would have meant their reason, their conscience and their will. The whole self, the core of who they are, is to be strengthened as they know Christ living in them. What is your experience of a growing inner security as God’s power works in you?
The love Paul speaks about can only be experienced and explored in community. What part can you play in loving others out of the overflow of Christ’s love within you?
Paul recognizes that in working out his plan of salvation God is already doing way beyond anything we could dream up, so his prayer ends in praise and worship. From prison his confidence and hope lie in his glorious God.
Apply
Pray for yourself, another Christian and for your whole church family.
Closing prayer
Father God, may You be glorified in my life and in Your church as You are glorified in Christ Jesus.
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