August 15, 2023 | Be On Mission
Immeasurably More
Scripture: Ephesians 3(NIV)
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
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.
Devotional
Paul was chained under house arrest in Rome. The Ephesian believers were trapped in a pagan culture in Ephesus. Gentile Christians often played second fiddle to Jewish believers. All the poor and powerless felt inferior to the wise and wealthy. But the great difference maker is Jesus! Paul wrote, “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence” (v. 12).
Again, Paul hit on the themes of wealth and power, which were on full display in the city of Ephesus. He wrote, “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” (v. 16-17). What God does IN us is always superior to what the world does TO us or FOR us.
God knows us better than the world knows us. God even knows us better than we know ourselves. Psalm 139 says, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.” That Psalm goes on to say that God knows us inside out, from the moment of our conception. God loves you more than you can ever imagine.
That is why Paul encouraged them with this prayer for them, “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” (v. 18-19). God’s love for us is not only eternal, it is dimensionless. You can’t climb so high or fall so far that you are outside of God’s reach.
What is the best thing you can imagine God doing for you? Well, He wants to do “immeasurably more.” Why? Because His Holy Spirit dwells in you, and His power is at work within you. Go ahead. Make a bold request to God. Ask Him with the right heart, and watch what He does!
Poem
God's Stewardship
God does not waste His children’s time
Reduce, reuse, recycle
For prayer and service each is primed
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Each moment is well organized
Each interaction for the prize
Each trial and heartache by design
Reduce, reuse, recycle
