The Ephesian Prayer

Not an opening or a closing blessing, this prayer falls right in the middle of the letter...

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole 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 saints, 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 3:14 - 21.

In just four short sentences he mentions both power and love three times!

Think with me outside the box: If you think of this prayer in terms of punches thrown in a boxing match…you get a right and then a left hook and then a right again. Then a left hook and another left and then back with the right to knock us out!

It’s a pretty amazing passage. Whatever else Paul wants the Ephesians to understand - it is clear he wants them to know the Power and the Love of God.

“…to know this love that surpasses knowledge…” Did you catch that…Love that surpasses knowledge?

In other words…whatever knowledge can do for you, the love of God in Christ Jesus can do more. More than we can ask. More than we can imagine.

And if we could just get connected to the immensity of the Power and the Love of God…well, we would give him continual praise.

Amen.