Scripture: Ephesians 3: 10-21
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, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
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.
Consider:
This portion of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a shift in tone and focus from what came before. He has been working to explain the mystery of Christ and his own inability to comprehend it, let alone teach it to others well. This particular passage shifts from explanation and rallying cry for continued faith, to a reminder that his suffering is not in vain, and finally a pretty excited and bold prayer for his community.
Paul suggests that the church isn’t just a gathering of people; it is a signal to the entire universe. By living in a community that transcends old divisions or hardships, we move our focus from argument or blame and have the ability to truly commit to love and justice that moves forward, not backward. If we as a beloved community do that, we provide a testimony to God’s love that has a profound and lasting ripple effect!
To achieve forward motion and focus on God’s will, Paul prays for an inner change (change of heart) rather than a change in circumstances. He asks for us to be “rooted and grounded in love.” Like a tree with deep roots or a building with a solid foundation, our stability doesn’t come from our own willpower, but from being anchored in the soil of Divine Love.
Paul uses a beautiful, almost mathematical metaphor to describe the scale of God’s grace, which covers:
* The Breadth: Reaching out to every corner of humanity.
* The Length: Extending through all of time.
* The Height: Reaching the peak of our potential.
* The Depth: Descending into our deepest pains and shadows.
NOTHING is too far away from God’s grace to be touched by it. Nothing.
And so, the prayer concludes with one of the most famous benedictions in the Bible…"To God be the glory, forever and ever.” It serves as a reminder that anytime we lose sight of the anchor point, God’s glory, we must find our way back and regain our focus. When we point to something other than the glory of God in our justice seeking, in our efforts to love our neighbors AND our enemies, in our efforts to kingdom build, we miss the point. Paul’s prayer almost shouts to us the love, the expectation, and the joy that glorifying God in all we do can bring.
Pray:
Gracious God, may we be rooted so deeply in Your love that we become a living sign of Your wisdom. Strengthen our inner beings, expand our capacity to understand the vastness of Your grace, and remind us that Your power is at work within us—even when we feel small. Amen.
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