Ephesians-Strength to Comprehend
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family[c] in heaven and on earth is named,16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21 (ESV)
One of the hardest questions for me to answer is when someone wants to know your favorite things. For most categories, I can’t narrow down all the options into just one. For example, if someone asks me what my favorite book or song is I get stuck in that indecisive loop. For me it usually depends on the mood I’m in for what I want to read or listen to. Food is also a tough one for me. At any given moment my favorite food is cheese (preferably melted), popcorn, Reese’s Pieces and tacos in no particular order. It seems like a trivial comparison to say I feel the same way about scripture. It’s all my favorite but the passage we will meditate on today is one that throughout the years I’ve come to over and again. No matter what season of life I’m in, no matter what is challenging, its timeless truths seems to lift up my spirit and broaden my posture before God. This collection of verses are a prayer from a pastor’s heart, that the recipients of his letter will experience the grandeur of God’s infinite love. It’s hard to read the next few verses and not feel the Spirit rise within you or to get a quick shot of encouragement.
v. 14-16 For this reason…
The first three words give us pause. Why is Paul compelled to pray? Reviewing what has come before in the chapter will illuminate the inspiration. Paul has just finished explaining the mystery of God revealed--that Jews and Gentiles will live together in one faith family. The salvation of Christ has made a way for those who were near and far to be united as one. So his response is to bow his knees in prayerful thanksgiving. Those He makes His own are united by the same spiritual heritage.
Our Father gives out of His abundance. Because His glory is so rich, He has a surplus of love to lavish on His children. The conduit for receiving this spiritual wealth comes through the Spirit and strengthens the inner being of the believer with power. The Holy Spirit resides in the deepest part of those who trust in Christ. Out of the overflow of His majesty He lives within us, to fortify us. The power we experience as Christians comes from this mystical union.
v. 17-19 …to know the love of Christ…
Practically, as the Spirit lives within you, the essence of Jesus is also felt. As a form of the Triune God, one divine being expressed as three persons, the Spirit’s presence brings the lordship of Jesus to life. What He has done, what He has said, what He wants for you personally. Christ is settled within you and is making a permanent home. The foundation of His indwelling is love and is described in this prayer through many different dimensions.
The love of God is rooted in us, it is enduring, sustaining us in every seasons of faith. It is grounded, solid and secure, it cannot be moved and steadies us. His love is wide. It accepts all and invites everyone to come as they are. His love for us is long, imagined in eternity past before the world was formed. His love is high. It raises and exalts us, not just as an escape from hell but lifts us to heavenly places. His love is deep and sacrificial. He has gone through personal agony in our place and suffered on our behalf. It takes strength, given out of the riches of God’s glory, by the Spirit, to understand even a fraction of the multifaceted love of God for us. When we think we understand it, we find that it surpasses our conscious thought. If you’ve ever been caught up in God’s love, it is hard to describe the sense of ultimate well-being and peace that radiates through you. Verse 19 describes this illumination as the fullness of God; your whole being flooded with His presence.
v. 20-21 …far more abundantly…
After recalling the magnanimous qualities of the love of Christ that we can’t even conceptualize fully with our finite minds, the prayer closes with another radical statement. God is able to do more than we ask Him for. He can do more than we can even think of. He can do more than our wildest dreams! To get us to trust that, His power which dwells in us, is always working. Because He is leading us progressively to understand His love, He deserves all the glory through all generations. He worked that way in those that came before, in us today, and in our children’s children-all generations of the people of faith.
As I look as this prayer holistically, I notice a few things. First, Paul prays passionately and boldly. He doesn’t hold back his emotions or ask for something small. Next, Paul prays with an understanding of the work of the trinity. He specifically describes the personhood of each and describes their activity in our daily faith walk. Lastly, Paul prays for access to spiritual resources. Often, our prayers are more like a request list and the focus is a change in circumstances to relieve our suffering or anxiety. Here Paul is praying for us to receive love in such a way it will give us fortitude and transform our lives, no matter the joys or struggles we are experiencing.
Questions for reflection:
1. Have you ever considered how amazing it is that the spirit of God lives in your inner being in order to strengthen you and communicate unceasingly the love of God? Do you lean on that strength and take time when overwhelmed to connect with God and meditate on that truth?
2. List all the ways God’s love is described in these verses. When you think His love in those terms and how His love for you is quantified, which word sticks out to you? How does that kind of love meet your needs?
3. How does this prayer compare to how you pray for others? Though this is just one example of how to pray for other believers, do you include accessing God’s love and power when you intercede? How would considering that change your prayer life?
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