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. (Ephesians 3:12-21 NIV)
We recognize that we need the power of God to do great things, but we aren’t doing them. Maybe it’s because we don’t realize that we, as Christians, need the power of God for the basics. Paul prayed for the Ephesians that they would be strengthened in their inner being so that Christ may dwell in their hearts. We take the indwelling Christ as the basics of the faith. We tell little children about having Jesus “in their hearts.” We need to realize that it’s a mighty miraculous thing to have the creator dwell in us. It takes the power of God to strength this temple to hold something so precious within.
So where do the “great things” come in? Paul prays further that with Christ rooted within, we need His power to understand the love of Christ that permits such a lodging and, more, how “wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Once we begin to grasp that understanding, and such grasping is a life long process, good works and great things flow from us. We can’t help but respond to such love with complete dedication to His purposes.
Can’t imagine doing great things? Consider this if we will just recognize his indwelling presence, and dwell on the love that expresses, through us He will do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.”
Feel like your “stuck on empty?” Pray for yourself what Paul prayed for the Ephesians: the power of God working in us to allow His presence and to grasp His love. How simple. How incredibly powerful.
Imagine a force of folks “all the Lord’s holy people” filled with Christ, amazed by His love, changing the world.
Thanks Pastor Jason for the insight.
Be blessed.
Nick
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