now unto him

[Together as a She Reads Truth community, we are reading through Ephesians. Sign up for the reading plan here!]

Text: Ephesians 3:14-21

The Christian life exists both individually and corporately, but one cannot fully comprehend “the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge” (v. 19) without the Holy Spirit at work in both areas.

Paul most often talks about followers of Christ as a unit – a body. We are one in Christ. But here, twice, he mentions the work of the Holy Spirit within us as individuals as well (verses 16 and 19).

He reminds the Ephesians – and us – as individuals, of their beginnings in their new birth. We were rooted and grounded in love. Like a tree with deep, healthy roots, he prays that we have “strength to comprehend with all the saints”(now we’re coming back to our corporate faith) “what is the breadth and length and height and depth- ”

Wait. The “length and height and depth” of what?

It’s the Kingdom of God, being built one living stone at a time. Remember the holy temple Paul told us about in 2:20,21: “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.”

Yes, the “length and height and depth” describe Christ’s love for his people. It is all-inclusive, never-ending, always giving.

Paul is praying that we, as individuals and as a body, will be equipped with the strength to comprehend God’s love without boundaries.

We could stop right there, but Paul goes on: “Now unto him” (v. 20)

Yes, there’s a lot more to that sentence about the ability of God to do more than we can ask or imagine; but don’t skip over those first three words!

“Now unto him.”

“Now”, take all that the Holy Spirit has done in your own life, and what he is doing in the Church around you, and all that you are just beginning to understand about Christ’s deep, deep love; and “unto him”.

Go, sisters. Live “unto Him”.  Take what you know of his love without boundaries. With the “power at work within us”, live your life as unto Him today.