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15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20 God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22 And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

 

As I read these words of Paul (or a later follower of Paul, scholars are unsure), written to the Christian community in Ephesus, I think of the group from Living Lord who are visiting these locations of the early church. May the words of scripture become more real to them as they experience the environs of those early Christians.

 

Two thousand years later, this passage is glorious to us today. In our Bible Babes Bible study, we just finished a Max Lacado study of the promises of God. One of them is: You will have power, which is referenced in this passage. The writer prays that “God may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation…so that you may know… what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe.” Think about how great that power is. It is the power that raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at God’s right hand in heaven.

 

I confess that I don’t always act like I have this power, getting frustrated/annoyed/anxious at comparatively trivial things. Remembering God’s promises to always be with us, hear our prayers, love us, forgive us, and give us eternal life, puts things in perspective and always gives us hope no matter how dire surrounding circumstances get.

 

Dear Lord, what an awesome, powerful God you are. Help us to live as people empowered by your Holy Spirit to live as you have called us. Amen

 

Linda Giesen

linda.giesen37@gmail.com

 

Prayer concern: People living through the terrors of war.