19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
The Same Spirit
I am convinced that most people don’t believe this passage. It’s one of those parts of the Bible that we read and subconsciously go, “Yeah, yeah, whatever.” We simply do not believe that Paul’s telling the truth.
You see, if we did believe it, we’d live differently. We’d wake up each morning convinced that God was going to do something incredible through our lives that day. It might be something tangible, or it might be something we don’t even see, but God will use us to touch lives in a miraculous way.
And yet, most of us don’t wake up each day believing that. We wake up each day simply hoping to get through the day without screwing up too badly. At best, we hope that in some small way, we might make someone’s life a little better.
That type of thinking simply doesn’t fit in to this passage. Paul is suggesting that the very Spirit of God … the same power that raised Jesus from the dead … is flowing through us as we live out what it means to be the Church.
Perhaps it’s why this is part two of the prayer that Paul had for the Ephesians. He started that prayer yesterday, asking God to give them spiritual wisdom and insight. Today, he is praying that they would comprehend the significance of God’s power.
It’s a good prayer for us as well.
My prayer: I admit it, Lord. Far too often I forget that you are truly all powerful. That your Spirit, the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, is still alive and working today … through me. It’s so hard to believe that. And so, I simply pray the prayer that Paul had for the Ephesians. Help me understand the incredible greatness of your power. Amen.
Until tomorrow.
