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 3:20-21
Notes
Too often, v. 20 has been interpreted in terms of earthly and temporal providence. The verse becomes a support for earthly gain rather than a reflection on God’s wonder and amazing power. He who pulled us out of the pit of destruction, crowned us with gold that will not tarnish, and made us heirs to a kingdom that will never fade away. And yet, we limit God by putting our man-made needs before His true purpose.
As a redeemed community of believers, we are an eternal witness to God’s immeasurable and marvelous grace. For the unchurched, this reminds them of the purpose and importance of church community, and that although there is pain, hurt, and disappointment, we are called to join other believers in the community to extol eternal praise unto our blessed Savior. As for the church, the focus is not on weekly attendance, political power, monetary gain, or building a life of comfort and ease. The church’s calling is to give glory to the Lord’s name through praise. The church’s actions are to live uncorrupted by the world, proclaim the Gospel globally, and minister to the needs and distress of the poor and oppressed.
But sometimes our prayers go unanswered or result in ways we did not expect. We must remember, God responds to our prayers when we ask anything according to his will (1 John 5:14-15). His purpose is not to enrich us materially or give us fame, but to make each of us more Christlike. Thinking of others, caring for the poor, and having a servant mindset rather than acting as someone with something to gain are ways we should be reaching out in prayer.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
The end of the third chapter of Ephesians is a doxology, an expression of praise to God by Paul that celebrates both the awe-inspiring power of the Almighty and the reverence due to His deep-seated mysteries. This praise recognizes the gift of salvation offered to Jews and Gentiles alike, embodied in the mystery of the church’s purpose.
Praise be to a God who brings together the divided to form a new whole, who knows the mysteries of this world before its existence and long after its termination, who commands and controls the universe yet cares when a sparrow falls. Our requests to God should transcend the material and the temporal. We should look beyond the present and focus on the eternal, asking for more than we could ever imagine. We know our destiny is not in death, but in redemption, and we have a seat in the heavenly realm. ‘May it be so’
MEMORY VERses
Henry Fuseli. Aided by Eeriboia, Hermes Carries Off the Exhausted Ares from the Sleeping Sons of Aloeus (recto); Sketch of One of the Sleeping Sons of Aloeus (verso), 1819. The Art Institute of Chicago
Related Verses
More verses about the immeasurable power of God
Prayer Invitation
Application Questions
- Are you praying in a way that you feel comfortable with your own strength and capability to solve the struggle? In what ways can you expand your prayer life to invite what God can do, which is immeasurably more than any person can accomplish?
- Are there areas of your life where you have unconsciously limited what you believe God is capable of doing? What is something that you know seems impossible, but that you can present to God who can do immeasurably more than all you could ask or imagine?
- Are you relying too much on yourself or others to achieve your purpose in life? If so, how can you begin to pivot your trust away from yourself or mankind to the Lord?
- When fear, doubt, or exhaustion creeps into your life, do you get caught up in emotions, or do you remember that all things are in His power? What changes in your life could help develop the perspective that God is sovereign and will never abandon you?
- When God accomplishes things in His power, even when they are different from what you planned, are you accepting His sovereignty, or are you still trying to hold on to control? How can you let go of control and learn to release your struggles to the Lord?
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