Paul’s second prayer for the Ephesians
Eph 3:14-21, “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 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, to him be glory...”
Beyond the power of this intercession, I am particularly fascinated by Paul’s careful choice of words. He truly believed that it was possible for a human being other than Christ, to be filled with all the fullness of God. It was not an announcement effect; he really believed and prayed every word he wrote. We should therefore set for ourselves a goal and pray for such an in-filling…
His prayer also reminds us of the origin of each family. We generally have no problem understanding and accepting that we come from God individually; but it is not always easy to realise or accept that every family also comes from Him. Indeed, some families are so dysfunctional; and some parents can be so cruel that we can have a hard time believing and understanding how God's love could have given us birth in such environments. I recently watched a movie on television, Precious, from the name of a black American teenager sexually abused by her father with the complicity of her mother before she was even 7. The man even impregnated her twice! Her mother, madly in love with him, let him do it because she feared he would leave her otherwise and she hoped to win his heart back by 'pleasing' him in such a manner. Eventually, she developed a deep aversion and a fierce jealousy for her once precious 'husband snatcher' of a daughter. She even almost killed her grandson by throwing him unto the ground a few days after his birth, because he was the spitting image of her husband, the father and grandfather of the child! How can we believe that such a family can have its origin in God? Yet, it is the case...
Paul’s second prayer to the Ephesians finds its meaning in such situations or when the grip of events begins to tighten too much on us or our loved ones –He feared that the Ephesians would eventually lose heart because of all tribulations he was enduring for them (see vs. 13). His prayer teaches us that what we need most in times like these is:
· That the Holy Spirit will powerfully strengthen our inner being. Paul asks that this be done liberally according to the riches of His glory. It is not in vain that he could say: ‘When I am weak, then I am strong.’ Depending on what test we go through, people may think that we are at our lowest; at the bottom of the pit; whilst we are actually stronger than ever after the Lord has comforted and strengthened us. It is in this way that Paul used to endure beatings, torture and imprisonment.
• That Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith. Jesus insists on the need to abide in Him, because it is possible not to do so. It is possible that He may only be a casual visitor who quickly goes when the fire of testing breaks out.
· That we may be rooted and grounded in love. We start and stand with/in love. Like Paul, let us pray that God helps us understand and be filled with the vastness of the love of Christ. Our foundation, the basis of our every action and thought must be this love and our roots –which should be as strong and deep as possible- should also be the love of God. This is what will enable us not only to remain confident in the goodness of God despite all the hardships, but also to obey the Lord by loving our enemies. God knows what He is doing and there is a reason for everything. He is always ready to turn any calamitous situation to our advantage, if only we give Him the chance. And coming back to Precious, a vile father is a father in need of the love of Christ. If we do not perceive it like that, it will be difficult to bring the Gospel to people like him.
Finally, Paul ends knowing that God will do infinitely beyond what he has asked for and which was not small! Is not that wonderful? Let us imitate his faith.
God bless you.
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