June 7, 2009 Strength And Love
Today’s Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 4–6; Psalm 18; Ephesians 3
Scripture Focus:
Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Observation:
This is an amazing passage. Paul prays that God would give the Ephesians strength through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith, and that they would comprehend the all–encompassing presence of God’s love.
Then Paul reminds them that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.
This is the God I serve. This is the God who loved me and gave himself for me.
Application:
What can one say in the face of such love? How can I not respond to it?
Last night Dennis said the first step to reaching the lost is to love them. Here I see God doing the same for me—loving me first and then empowering me. May I take God seriously. May I have strength through God’s Spirit in the inner man, and may I comprehend the love of God.
Prayer:
Father God, strengthen me in the inner man and give me even a portion of your love for the lost.
