I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, 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. Ephesians 3:17-21
Heavenly Father, as I read these words addressing the churches in Ephesus, I am more grateful than ever that you have rooted and established us in your love. You have planted our roots deep in the fathomless depths of your agape love. Our eternal health and fruitfulness are not in doubt. As your people, we will flourish forever.
And you have established and are building us upon Jesus—the only foundation which is indestructible, impregnable, and invulnerable. The gates of hell will not overcome the growth and forward movement of your beloved people (Matt. 16:18). As your church, we will not only survive, we will thrive forever in the new heaven and new earth. Yet until that Day…
However, until that Day of eternal flourishing and thriving so much can happen to us and among us as your people. Satan hates the church and we are an “in Christ” but still-sinful-people.
It’s why Paul’s prayer for our growth in the love of Jesus is so critical… and so daily. What but a bigger and better grasp of the love of Jesus can possibly keep us focused on the things that really matters… repentant of the ways we fail one another… and submitted to the calling you have clearly given us? So much is at stake. Only the love of Jesus can win the day.
Father, it’s sobering to realize that Paul’s letter to the Ephesians wasn’t the only time the churches of Ephesus were addressed about love. Many years later Jesus spoke these words to the same churches, “I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first” (Revelation 2:4-5). Father, really good churches can fall into really big messes. Only the love of Jesus can win the day.
Father, I’m so glad you can do so immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, but I will settle today for what I can ask and for what I can imagine. I ask you to restore me to my first love relationship with Jesus. And I ask you for power… for an outpouring of your Holy Spirit that will enable me and the brothers and sisters in Jesus to grasp how wide, long, high and deep is the love of Jesus. May the love of Jesus humble us… help us remember the height from which we have fallen… repent and do the gospel things we did at first. I can imagine this Father, and I do ask it, so that your glory will be revealed in the church and throughout all generations. So very Amen, I earnestly and passionately pray, in Jesus’ beloved name.
