“Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20 – King James Version) My genuine hope and primary purpose for the Ephesians 3:20 Faith Encouragement and Empowerment Blog is to assist all people of faith, regardless of your prism of experience, to grow spiritually toward unconditional self-acceptance and develop personally acquiring progressive integrity of belief and lifestyle. I pray you will discover your unique purpose in life. I further pray love, joy, peace, happiness and unreserved self-acceptance will be your constant companions. Practically speaking, this blog will help you see the proverbial glass in life as always half full rather than half empty. I desire you become an eternal optimist who truly believes that Almighty God can do anything that you ask or imagine.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Meditation Upon Ephesians 3:20

Meditation Upon Ephesians 3:20

“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,” Ephesians 3:20 is one of the most influential verses in the New Testament.  It comforts and challenges the believer.  The verse reminds us the awesome and infinite abilities of the Creator of the universe surpass our mental capacities of logic and imagination.  Interestingly, He deposits that incredible power within each believer.  From birth in which we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:130-16), we are the gracious recipients of God’s creative power.  However, we face the daily challenge of surmounting any fear that plagues us.  Can we find the faith and trust to genuinely rely upon God in order to access and utilize this majestic and mysterious internal fortitude?

In the King James Version of the Bible, Ephesians 3:20 reads, “Now to Him who can do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”  The characterization, “exceedingly abundantly,”  richly describes the abilities of the infinite architect of the universe.  God’s only limitations are the ones He chooses to place upon Himself. 

The Bible primarily discloses God’s faithful and eternal love for humankind whom He made in His image.  God limits Himself according to His unconditional love for us.  He adheres faithfully to the covenant He made in Eden, repeated throughout the Old Testament and eternally sealed through the redemptive work of Christ.  As a natural extension of God’s limitless love, He graciously utilizes His infinite power to bless us.  He is able to do more than we can conceive.  Furthermore, He can do more than we ask.  What an amazing thought, considering that everyone has an endless wish list.  Yet, God can do more than we envision.  Given our normal flights of fantasy, it is simply staggering to think that God is able to even satisfy outrageous desires.

Do we possess the courage to ask or imagine?  I suspect that many believers pass over this verse.  It seems so farfetched.  “Yeah, what a nice thought, Pollyanna!”  Should we find the faith and courage to rely upon its promises, we will travel spiritually and existentially to unimaginable vistas.  Such heights may include financial blessings and material acquisition.  More significantly, those pinnacles are places of love, truth, justice, joy, and peace, the enduring wealth of life.  These eternal riches are incalculable.  Most unfortunately, many believers never obtain them because they simply lack the courage to ask.

Imagine your life without fear, doubt, disease, sin, and any other limitations that impede your ability to find inner healing and wholeness.  Your dreams and goals are more than wishful thinking.  They become real!  God is able to do it!  If you steadfastly believe Him by obeying His word and fiercely trust Him by following His guidance, you will live the “summum bonum,” the good life.  Faith asserts an unequivocal belief in the word and abilities of God.  Trust, practically speaking, means acting upon your faith.  If you can imagine it, it is yours. 

In the most practical way, God accomplishes His work through us.  The second part of the verse declares He works immeasurably “according to His power that is at work within us.”  In order to realize the blessings and promises of this verse, we partner with God.  Daily self-denial yields the power of the Holy Spirit to achieve resolutions to our problems.  Prayer is not magic nor is it wishful thinking.  When we pray, we ask God for wisdom, strength and willingness to take the first steps.  Additionally, we ask Him to change holistically our attitude and character.  Prayer is an appeal to receive graciously the fortitude that emerges from the enduring presence of God.  As we genuinely rely upon Him, the Holy Spirit gives us the dynamism to accomplish divine purposes and plans. 

This week, I pray that you will commit this awesome verse to your memory.  Moreover, I pray that you will uncritically accept its divine promises and live into them.

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)