Paul prays for the Ephesian Christians in the first chapter of Ephesians (Eph 1:15-23). It's an interesting prayer, both for his motivation and for its content. He starts, "For this reason." (Eph 1:15). What reason? Well, he's writing to "saints" who are "faithful in Christ Jesus" (Eph 1:1) He's writing to blessed saints (Eph 1:3). And those blessed saints are ... fully blessed (Eph 1:4-14). Chosen, predestined, redeemed, adopted, inheritors, sealed with the Spirit ... really, truly blessed. But there's more. "Because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints," (Eph 1:15) he adds. Their faith, proven by their love ... his other reason for this prayer.
What does Paul pray for this amazing group of people? Better health? Their felt needs? Their comfort? Funny ... no. Not a hint of anything like that. He prays that God would give them "the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him" (Eph 1:17). Why? To enlighten the eyes of their hearts (Eph 1:18). Why? So they could know things. What things? The hope to which He has called them, the riches of their inheritance, and "the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe" (Eph 1:18-19). All of this is premised on Christ's work in His resurrection (a good picture of the measure of this power) that raised Him to ... supremacy (Eph 1:20-23).
It's an interesting prayer, isn't it? Not the usual, "God bless Sally" or "Please, protect my family" or the like. It's not that those are bad or incorrect. Paul had higher things in mind. Paul wanted, above all, that their hearts would be enlightened enough to see the important things: hope, the glorious riches of their inheritance, and the power of God in their lives. And in ours. And, really, doesn't that encompass everything else? If we see those things clearly, doesn't that change our entire lives, outlook, perspective, motivation, confidence, daily existence? If I know the power with which God is working in my life, doesn't that change how I walk? If I see the hope, doesn't that change how I feel every day? If I recognize the supremacy of Christ, what does that do to every other meager daily problem? I think it's a prayer for all time, not just the Ephesians.
2 comments:
Christians often say they don't know how to pray. But what they're really saying is they don't read their Bible, because it is full of excellent examples of how to pray.
It is a big prayer, yet it is also kind of intimidating and scary. How many of us are really prepared to have that prayer answered to it's fullest?
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