I love Paul's humility in Ephesians 3:8 when he says. "Although I am less than all the Lord's people." Do you feel that way—less than all the Lord's people? Most would say we shouldn't, but I disagree. Before Paul's Damascus Road moment (that's where he met Jesus), he was a murderer, yet God still chose him. Paul never seized in his amazement of the grace given him. In all the ways God used Paul, he never looked at himself or his deeds as his own achievements, but in humility and in remembering who he used to be, he focused his eyes instead on the unsearchable riches of Christ.
I pray that I never forget who I was, so that I continuously remember what I was saved from; and most assuredly of the One who saved me, and to my amazement, Whom He saved me for. Now without question, in the inevitable wrestling match in my flesh, I'm reminded that it's only by my moment by moment dependence on Him that I can accomplish anything.
See my last post, The Power of Prayer, on Ephesians 3:1-13
The remainder of Ephesians chapter 3 is Paul's prayer of intercession.
I find it a bit difficult to break it up to discuss but I pray God gives me the words He wants to convey. However, please please read it uninterrupted for yourself in Ephesians 3:14-21.
As I write about one of the most beautiful and powerful prayers in scripture, my heart aches as I watch the world unravel because of its desire to take God out of everything. Somehow the belief that godhood can be achieved in self is front and center. I can't help but wonder what eyes would see if hearts were opened to the One true God who provided a way to freedom in Him.
Paul returns in verse 14 to where he started in verse 1, "When I think of all this. . . ."
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. (Ephesians 3:14-15 NLT)
Paul is in awe that God would entrust him with the privilege of spreading the Good News about His plan regarding Christ—that all who believe in Him share equally in the riches inherited by God's children. In humility, on his knees, Paul intercedes for the believer—I'm captivated by how his prayer is like stones that stack, one upon another, as if building an altar to God.
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. (vs16 NLT)
Strength from the Spirit of God put into our inner being; inner strength. There is a natural resistance to the human heart's surrender. The strength given by the Spirit of God to the believer opens the door of his (or her) heart to follow Jesus wherever He leads.
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. (vs17NLT)
I remember reading this for the first time and thinking, what does it mean for Jesus to make His home in my heart? I've realized over the last decade or so that this is not a question that I could answer, or learn for that matter, not on an intellectual level anyway; but in a complete way, a spiritual way.
We love, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19
Paul asks God to empower us through His Spirit, and he notes that as we grow in His love, we will organically surrender more and more of our heart to Jesus until it becomes His.
Home may mean different things to different people, but for me, I would describe home as the place I long to be—where I am known best—where I feel safe and secure. I love the analogy of Jesus making His home in my heart because as Paul goes on, he indicates that an open heart rooted in Christ reveals the love of God.
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. (vs18 NLT).
Oh, that we have this understanding power, all else is just an illusion! Understanding the power of God's love grounds us, making us pliable and prepares us to be used; always, but especially today.
Paul points out that God's love has dimensions, showing its reality and that it can be measured; but can it really be fully comprehended? Only by the way of the cross—
Author David Guzik writes,
To come to any understanding of the dimensions of God’s love, we must come to the cross. The cross pointed in four ways, essentially in every direction, because...
· God’s love is wide enough to include every person.
· God’s love is long enough to last through all eternity.
· God’s love is deep enough to reach the worst sinner.
· God’s love is high enough to take us to heaven.
Stop and ponder that for a moment, why would anyone decide not to fully follow Jesus? Consider the alternative. As a matter of fact, turn on the news, you can't help but see the contrast.
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (vs19 NLT)
The next stone on the stack is Paul's desire for the beloved to experience the love of Christ in every way, releasing ALL the fullness of God, making us complete in Him. Imagine how different the world would look if it surrendered to the Truth of God's promises?
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (vs20 NLT)
What we've unpacked in Ephesians 1-3 is far beyond what any human being can accomplish. Only God is able to do such things, much more than we could ask or imagine. Christian, your eternity begins here and now; you've been raised from death to life; and you're equipped with everything you need to walk in what God has promised to do in and through you— exceedingly abundantly above all that you ask or think (NKJV)
Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. (vs21 NLT)
It's not so simple for me to move on from these three chapters because as you will see in chapter 4, Paul begins to lay out what it looks like to walk in the truth of who we are in Christ. It's so imperative to let that truth sink deep into your soul, creating an appetite for God that exceeds anything of this world. When His beloved collectively walk in His purposes, God will be glorified and lives will be changed.
If you need to go back and read Ephesians chapters 1-3 over and over again, as I have, before moving on to chapter 4, please do; I know you won't regret it. May I suggest that you insert your name throughout the pages—and read it out loud for your ears to hear all that God has promised to those who are in Christ Jesus.
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