Reflections From Ephesiansਨਮੂਨਾ

The apostle Paul regularly reminds his readers that he is praying for them. That would have been very encouraging, but once or twice, he tells them exactly what it is he is praying for.

In our reflection on Ephesians today, we are going to investigate the substance of Paul’s prayer for the church. What exactly did he consider of prime importance? What did he want to see in the young church in Ephesus? What does scripture want to see in us?

To begin with, in verses 14-15, Paul reminds them that every family in heaven and on earth takes its name from God. He is the great and eternal Father from whom all families/clans/peoples derive their existence. Paul infers here that, because God is Father, family is the building block of all human relationships. Nowhere else should family be seen at its potential best than in the church - the family of God.

In verses 16-17, Paul opens his magnificent and instructive prayer, praying that the Holy Spirit would strengthen the church according to his power in keeping with his riches in glory. And, not only this, but that as a result Christ would be deeply embedded in them through faith as they are grounded in and learning about his love.

These are the paramount themes - the Spirit, Christ, power, and love. Paul is less concerned here with their daily issues; he is more concerned with the image of Christ being formed in them. Jobs, promotions, possessions - the good life - just aren’t good enough. These things don’t go the distance nor reflect the purposes of God in Christ, in his people, for the world. Our danger is to focus on what Paul doesn’t focus on. We tend to pray for things that personally affect each of us, whereas the apostle is praying for things that affect the growth of the believer in grace, and the witness of the church to the world and the principalities and powers. In Ephesians 3.10, Paul has a bigger vision - he sees further than what is just in front of him, of us.

In verses 18-19, Paul continues to pray for them, asking that they may see and know the unparalleled love of Christ, and just how wide and deep this is. When we look only at this world, we fail to see the immense expansiveness of knowing Jesus Christ. It’s another world - why trade this transitory world for God’s glorious vision promised in Christ? God’s goal, according to Paul’s prayer, is that we “may be filled with all the fullness of God.” When did a new home or job do this for us?

The concluding segment of his prayer, in verses 20-21, is often misunderstood, therefore misapplied. There is a power at work within us, by the Spirit, that has results far beyond our imagination, our dreams. And that is Paul’s point - what God will accomplish is beyond imagination or asking. It is not merely a supercharged version of our fondest dreams, as it is sometimes presented. It is out of this world. If all that God will do is something we can imagine, then God is less than he says, and we are more, neither of which are true.

“To him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations.” What a destiny for us, what a high calling.