Thursday, September 24

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2015

Isaiah 43:14–45:10

Ephesians 3:1–21

Psalm 68:1–18

Proverbs 24:1,2

 

 

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 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, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 

“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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:14–21)

 

 

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian believers echoes many of the realities that we wish to see in our individual and corporate life in Christ.  He touches upon the interrelationship of the three Persons of the Trinity and the extent of God’s love.

 

Let’s take a look at some phrases to reflect on the deeper meaning herein:

 

“… before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.”  This section highlights that, in God alone, we find purpose and definition (Psalm 36:9).  As we look to Him and interact with Him, our nature – how He has formed us in His image, according to His likeness, and given us intellect, emotions, and will – becomes clear.

 

“… out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being... filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”  The Spirit’s power operates on our “inner being” and provides strength to honor God in our daily lives.  As described in Galatians 5:22,23, the fruit of the Spirit enables us to become “fully alive,” exhibiting the positive qualities for which God designated us at creation.  His plan includes a wholeness and overflowing reality of His spiritual blessing; we will then radiate His character.

 

“… so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…. being rooted and established in love... ”  When we receive Christ into our hearts through faith, He takes residence in our lives.  He becomes our life (Colossians 3:1–4; Galatians 2:20).  We may only approach Him in faith, which includes both our desire to seek Him and God’s drawing us to Himself.  The persistence of our faith emerges from this rootedness in His love.

 

“… power… to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge… ”  God’s love has overwhelmed us, does overwhelm us, and will overwhelm us.  I am sensing more and more that each believer must experience a tidal wave of His love and affection to overcome the hurts and slights that the world, forces of evil, and our own hearts and minds have inflicted.  Created in His image and redeemed through the blood of Christ, those who have received Christ may now return joyfully to their loving Father and rest in His affection.

 

“… immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine… ”  While we may initially think of this phrase as speaking of material goods, the intention seems more focused on spiritual blessings and benefits.  No amount of material possessions or length of life may compare with one moment of peace with God and intimacy with Him.  As Psalm 84:10 reads, “Better is one day in your courts/ than a thousand elsewhere… ”

 

“… to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations… ”  God formed the world and everything in it for the purpose of bringing glory unto Himself.  For a human or any other creature, this motivation would appear selfish or prideful, but God’s perfection inevitably triggers an exaltation of His glory.  As Philippians 2:9–11 indicates, every person will bow before the Lord Jesus Christ, acknowledging His Lordship.  We will experience great joy and freedom as we worship our glorious God today, in this life.

 

 

Lord God, we thank You for sending Your Son to take on the penalty that we rightly deserved and to bring freedom to us.  We trust in our Lord Jesus Christ and give You praise for working everything for our good.  Thank You for sending the promised Holy Spirit so that our faith may persist and that we may understand the length, width, and depth of Your love.  Help us to feel, sense, and embrace this love as an antidote to this world’s cynicism and attacks of Your good creation in us.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

 

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