Friday, August 17, 2007
Ephesians 3:20-21 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 . . .
PRAYERS EXCEEDED BY GOD'S ABILITY
In his prayer for the Ephesian Christians, Paul asked God to give them a thorough comprehension of Christ's love so that God could then fill them with all that fills Him.
At first glance it appears that this is a "shooting for the moon" prayer on Paul's part. But in the reading above Paul makes it clear that he believes that the Father's power to accomplish what we ask is far greater than the things for which we ask. In fact, Paul says that the Father's power is far above the things we even imagine!
Paul's prayer for the Ephesian Christians is no exaggerated prayer. Paul isn't asking for more, thinking that God will give less. Paul is fully confident that God can and will grant His prayer for the Christians in Ephesus if it be the Father's will.
Imagine a box that encompasses all that exists -- a box larger than the known universe. If that box is God's power, our most imaginative prayers are but a grain of sand, dwarfed beyond comprehension by the magnitude of His dynamic ability.
And this isn't the most amazing concept of which Paul speaks here. Look at verse twenty once more. After saying that our Heavenly Father can do "exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think", Paul says that the Father does this "according to the power that works in us".
When Christ came to dwell in our hearts through faith, the most powerful force ever took up residence in us.
