Ephesians 3:14-21 (NRSV)
Read Ephesians 3:14-21 on biblegateway.com
Verse 14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, Verse 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. Verse 16I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, Verse 17and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. Verse 18I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, Verse 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Verse 20Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, Verse 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Devotion
Yesterday I shared that my family doesn’t make it a habit to pray before meals. What I didn’t tell you is that we did pray together as a family, every night (as I imagine many families do) before bedtime. And then here is today’s reading: a glimpse of the prayer that the author of Ephesians makes to God on behalf of the people of Ephesus. It is a beautiful prayer, reminding us that we are all part of God’s family. It is asking that Jesus would dwell in our hearts and that, grounded in love, we would (beyond knowledge) have the ability to experience how great God’s love is for each of us. My childhood prayers were “Now I lay me down to sleep…,” followed by the Lord’s Prayer, but today I am going to begin adding this prayer for my family and friends, and also for those I have yet to meet.
Prayer
Father in Heaven, grant that your Holy Spirit touch each of those I love and care for with the joy that comes through being loved by your son, Jesus, my Lord and my Savior. Grant that those who do not experience your love be graced with your presence: show me how I can be Jesus for them. Amen.