Scripture Reading(s)
Ephesians 1:15-23
1:15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason
1:16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.
1:17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him,
1:18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,
1:19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
1:20 God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
1:21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.
1:22 And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church,
1:23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Reflections
Whether or not you have been a Christian for 30 years or 3 years, we all need prayer regardless of where we are in our spiritual walk. It is also our duty to pray for the welfare of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Here this passage is encouraging each believer to take the time to pray for one another and ask for God to work in and through each others lives to further advance the message of the Gospel.
Prayer is a powerful tool in the life of the body of Christ and here we see that if as a whole take the time to pray, nothing less then the almighty power of God will work in ways that we could never expect. This passage points to the fact that prayer fuels the hand of God to work in and through our prayers.
Our prayers are used to supply strength to those who have faith in Him and gives them all blessings in the richest abundance. By being partakers of Christ, our prayers for one another open up a door for us to experience God’s grace being poured out in our lives and His Glory being put on display. Prayer for one another also fights off weak moments we go through and Satan’s snares to discourage us and throw us off course. As one commentator said when we take the time to pray for one another is when “we most perceive the greatness of that mighty power which effects the conversion of the believer, and is engaged to perfect His salvation”.
Let us always take the time to pray and lift each other up before an almighty and loving God and watch as we and others experience His blessings and grace in our lives.
And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church,which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all (Ephesians 1:22-23)
It is easy to feel insignificant as a single person in our large world but we are much the opposite. God has not only sent His son to save us but for those who are part of His body, we are the “fullness” of Jesus’ work on the earth. We are not here by accident but by a divine purpose that God has made for us.
The potential exists in all of us to change the world we live in. No greater power exists than that of the Holy Spirit and God has placed that inside each of us. How great things have already been done with the power of the Spirit. From Pentecost to the modern era many great Christians have realized the great potential they possess and used it to cultivate a better world and bring people to know the love of Christ.
Let us always be bold and confident in our witness, knowing that God’s Spirit will guide us as we step out in faith.
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