Love God Greatly - Secure in Christ: One Faith, One Family, One SaviorSample

Week 1 / Chosen and Redeemed

Growing to Maturity

Read: Ephesians 1:15-23

SOAP: Ephesians 1:17

"I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, will give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him" (NET)

Into the Text

One of the sweetest gifts in my life is a group of girls who have been my best friends for over twenty years. They know all of my strengths, weaknesses, and quirks. Because they’ve known me for so long, they know how to encourage me and to speak truth into my life when I’m struggling. It’s a gift to be known and to know that you have people in your corner.

The same was true for the people in Ephesus. Because Paul spent two years living with them, he had a deep knowledge of and connection to the Christians in the city. This is why he could encourage and pray so specifically.

Paul prays that the believers in Ephesus would continue to mature in their faith. He prays that they would grow in wisdom and understanding. He doesn't pray this so that they can merely be successful in the world. He prays that they can flourish in their relationship with Christ as they understand the hope of the gospel.

This prayer is still so relevant today. Our relationship with God is not meant to be stagnant but to develop and deepen over time. The best way to do this is to get to know Him better through what He has revealed about Himself in His Word.

We here at Love God Greatly do not cease to give thanks for you and pray for you as you seek to live a life that loves God and others each and every day. We pray that you will continue to see the incomparable greatness of our good God as He is at work in your life. Keep going, sweet sister!

Prayer

God, I pray that you would help me to grow in wisdom and understanding of you. May my love for your Word, your people, and your character grow exponentially this year. Amen.