Ephesians WEEK 3
Monday
“This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:6
We are about to walk into the epicenter of American divisiveness. As we brace for Election Day tomorrow, the Gospel equips us with a different perspective. Paul begins the third chapter talking about God’s grace as “mystery”. As we find here, the mystery is the unforeseen inclusion of the Gentile community into the family of God. This mystery is a sort of holy surprise. No longer are non-Jewish people excluded based on their race, cultural practices or religious background. Outsiders do not have to become Jewish to become children of God. Instead, there is the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name (verses 14-15). Through Jesus, there is a mysterious unity provided for all. All humanity is brought together as one body as we all share together the promise found in Christ Jesus.
Do you believe that the unity we have in Christ runs deeper than all of the competing identities in our culture? Imagine if the churches in our community and country were known for unity in midst of diversity.
Today pray for unforeseen, surprising, mysterious unity for our church and for this time.
Tuesday
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love…” Ephesians 3:17
Paul is choosing to describe the security we have in Christ with two analogies. One is agricultural and the other is architectural.
“Rooted” is to have stability, a flow of nutrients, and access to water in drought.
“Established” means to have a firm foundation which provides security, strength, and dependability.
As roots are for a plant, so is our need for Christ’s love.
As a foundation is essential for a secure building, so is Christ’s love for your life.
There is nothing more sure, more firm, more stable, more sustaining than Christ’s love. The question is, are you drawing upon those roots? Are you building your life upon Christ’s love?
Spend some time in personal worship. Consider the lyrics from this song as we seek to be more deeply rooted and established in Christ’s love.
Wednesday
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Ephesians 3:16-17
Are you weary? Are you tired today? Do you struggle with lethargy or a loss in enthusiasm? Paul is praying for spiritual stamina in these verses. What this church needed 2,000 years, we need today. Three times in this prayer, we will find Paul praying this church might experience God’s POWER.
For us to be faithful and persistent, we need to discover a strength outside ourselves – a strength provided when Christ dwells in our hearts. We need to meet Christ in our inner being, our soul. This takes attention and intention. The question is, to what degree is this important to you today? Do not let the pace of our world, the laundry list of duties, or the awaiting inbox direct your life.
As our guest preacher, Rich Villodas, wrote, “Instead of being deeply formed, we settle for being shallowly shaped…our souls were not created for the kind of speed to which we have grown accustomed.”
Carve out a couple minutes right now to do what Paul did for this church. Go to your knees in prayer. Kneel before the Father and pray that you would be strengthened in your inner being. Turn your spiritual gaze to Christ who longs to dwell deep within you. And expect that God wants to give you surprising power.
Thursday
And I pray that you… may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19
These verses have a level of irony in them. Paul is praying that this community might know that which is unknowable. If it is unknowable, why even try? Why seek to understand that which is a mystery?
Father Richard Rohr explains how sacred mystery is different than what we might imagine. With Christ, mystery doesn’t mean that something is unknowable, but that something is infinitely knowable.
The mystery with Christ’s love is its endless, limitless capacity. We can never find the edge of this love. I am grateful that this love is beyond my comprehension. If Christ’s love is infinitely knowable, perhaps that is what we will spend eternity doing – experiencing and exploring the boundless love of Christ.
Today, spend time opening yourself to this love. Ask to be filled with this love, not to your measure, but “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” And for those who connect with God through worship, consider using this song in your personal, private worship.
Friday
Read verses Ephesians 3:14-21.
Several times in this letter, Paul slips into prayer. If he does this while he writes a letter, he must pray often for this community.
Who has God put on your heart today? Maybe someone in your family, a friend, someone going through a hard time, or someone you just met. Spend time praying for them.
Using the prayer at the end of chapter 3, insert their name in the blanks and go to God in prayer.
For this reason I kneel before You, Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of Your glorious riches You may strengthen ________ with power through Your Spirit in _____ inner being, so that Christ may dwell in ______’s hearts through faith. And I pray that ________, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that ________ may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to You who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within _______, to You be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Saturday
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
One of the greatest enemies to the spiritual life is rarely discussed. I’m not talking about the enemy of sinful desires, greed, pride or selfishness. One of the greatest enemies to the Christian life is a lack of spiritual imagination. We expect too little of God. We presume too little of God’s power, faithfulness, and loyalty. Paul wants this church to begin to see God “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask of imagine.” Why does Paul pray for this? If we could, through eyes of faith and hearts of love, believe that God has immeasurable power, love and goodness, we would live differently. If we knew God was immeasurably more, our capacity of worship grows. And if we believe God is a God of immeasurably more, we would not be as attached to the small promises of this world.
I’m afraid we settle for a God of measurably less-than too often.
As C.S. Lewis wrote, “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
Where do you need to believe that God can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine? Today, pray that God might renew your spiritual imagination and expand your expectation of God’s faithfulness.