[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.
I think what Paul is meaning in the passage is that we are all followers after the same God however, we also share a personal relationship with Christ that manifest in all of us. The ability to use the gifts of the Spirit is something all Christians can develop but everyone of us have a different gift for a particular use that God has ordained for the future.
There is so much power in this prayer of Paul’s. My daughter pointed out this section of scripture to me years ago… She was maybe 16, and we had just – with her 11 yr old brother – moved into a tiny ‘housing’ apartment. Ir was a very hard time, managing to homeschool and nurture my kids during the separation from my (now ex-) husband. My disability made things even more difficult, and I can clearly remember reading these verses – and praying them – over and over! I still use this prayer today, and it still has the amazing power to open my eyes to the limitless nature of God’s love; I still stand in awe of the tender yet powerful image of Paul, encouraging us to let the magnificence of God just sink down deep. And after reading and praying these verses for more than 10 years, now, I still feel the incredible depth of what God has yet to teach me through the Life and Word of Jesus Christ! Amen and God Bless you all, sisters in SheReads!
This passage of scripture is one of my very favorite. It speaks to me of the epitomy of life in Christ. There is such richness, such treasure, such strength, such community in life in Him. As a single mom, He has truly brought this passage to life in my life. Thanks be to Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than you can think of or imagine!
Ephesians 3:16-21 NET
Prayers without Boundaries
This passage of scripture, Paul's prayer, provides a model for my prayer life for other believers and for the Whole Body of Christ. First, that the indwelling Spirit with all the wealth of God's resources provide inner strength individually and corporately. That through faith, love, and the deep roots of Christ, the church, the believer, me included, can comprehend a love that without the Spirit cannot be fathomed and not just "get it" but be filled with that love, that power, so as the writer of my devotional puts it today, "that we, as individuals and as a body, will be equipped with the strength to comprehend God’s love without boundaries." And that when we pray to pray without restricting God or inserting our guidelines on Him for His Glory and for generations yet to come!
“God’s Lovewithout boundaries” ….it just doesn’t get any better than that! Praise God!!!!
I praise God that He has given us the power to live “unto Him.” Sometimes we do not realize how much certain words matter in the Bible, but they hold so much truth. God has the power to do more than we ask or think, and sometimes we do not realize that. All praise to Him! I am humbled by His majesty.
Oh to love like Jesus loves that is the challenge for us today. It is so difficult to try in our own strength to love the way that He loves but I am so glad that with faith he has made all things possible. In the world it is so easy to stop loving someone because of something they said or something that they did but as Christians God is calling us higher. Today I pray that we all will love like Christ loves.
Well put and beautifully said! I As much as I agree with statement I know it’s one of the hardest things we can do: love no matter what. Since God loves me that much I am sure going to try!