The Love of Christ

Eph. 3:14-21

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, Amen.

What a great prayer and a model for me! It makes me wonder what is the reason that I pray? Paul felt the  reason he prayed was related to the eternal purpose that he had realized in Christ Jesus. Because of this purpose and his relationship with Jesus, he had boldness and access with confidence into the very throne of God. Since his life's purpose was based on sovereign grace, he could accept fully everything that happened in his life. For this reason he prayed that:

• we would be strengthened with power through the Spirit in our inner being
• Christ would dwell in our hearts through faith
• having been rooted and grounded in love, we would have strength to comprehend what is the breadth, height, length, and depth of the love of Christ
• we would know and experience this love that surpasses knowledge so that we may be filled with the fullness of God

Paul did not hesitate to ask these great things because he knew Christ was able to do far more abundantly that we could ask or think according to the power at work within us, not according to our strength or intelligence, but according to what He does within us. He concluded the prayer by giving Him all the glory.

Do I pray so diligently to know and experience the love of God? Do I acknowledge the sovereignty of God in every aspect of my life?

Father,

Teach me to know and understand Your love so that I might be filled with the fullness of God.

In Jesus name,

Amen