Ephesians 1:15-23 (NRSV)
Read Ephesians 1:15-23 on biblegateway.com
Verse 15I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason Verse 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. Verse 17I 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, Verse 18so 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, Verse 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. Verse 20God 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, Verse 21far 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. Verse 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, Verse 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Devotion
For years, when I heard Luke’s accounts of the Ascension I would picture the disciples standing, staring up into the clouds with their jaws on the ground. Then I would see a “Christus Rex,” the kingly Christ on the cross in royal robes and crown, with his hand held in benediction. Our focus must be on the resurrected Christ, the kingly one, the ruling one, not on the astonishment of the disciples!
“God put his power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand. ... He has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church …” (vs. 20, 22). The church, and all subsequent disciples, are blessed by the vision of John’s Revelation in which we glimpse the praise and worship of the saints around the throne, “…singing with full voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb…’” (Rev. 5:12)
Prayer
To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever! Amen.