This devotional is part of a five day reflection on calling within the church.
Many of us need some noise. Consider using this curated playlist of meditative songs as background.
Pause
Take a few moments to breathe. Set down your phone, remove distractions. Allow yourself to become present in this moment with the Spirit of God.
Father, I come to you today longing to know your love so deeply it becomes the foundation of my whole life.
Reflect
Today’s reading comes from Ephesians 3:14-21 and is one of the Apostle Paul’s prayers we find for the church. Here we hear him pleading for God to give us an ability to see the vastness of God’s love in all its directions and dimensions.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 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. And I pray that you, 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 you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
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.
We live in an education minded culture. If there are things to learn, learn them. We all, with enough study, can grasp all knowledge or, at least, learn how to google all knowledge. In this passage, we’re told of the mystery of knowing God’s love: we need the power of the Spirit to simply comprehend the gospel. We need the whole of God’s people to gasp the dimensions of God’s love, too. The love God has for you is so astounding you need more that google to understand it.
We’re also brought into the multi dimensional nature of his love. It’s high, it’s deep, it’s wide. What God is doing within us, around us, and through Jesus, is more than we could imagine.
Ask
Spend time asking the Spirit to strengthen you, and establish you in the love of God.
Spirit, could you do a work within my life that would awaken me to more of Your love for me? Jesus, please dwell within me even when I want to run away. Father, call me back to your glory and do a powerful work in my life.
Consider the people in your life and community. Spend time praying for them by name, as Paul prayed, to have Christ dwell richly within them and for them to be established in love.
Yield
Let’s return to the last verses of today’s reading.
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.
Are you ready for God to do more than you can plan? Are you ready for your life to take unexpected turns, and be shaped by unlikely friendships? Do you yield your life to the unseen glory and power at work within you?
Jesus, I yield my life to your purpose. I give my life to your kingdom that continues through all generations. Help me see what you are doing, I want to be part of it!