Posts Tagged: Ephesians 3:20-21

“A God Who Does More than We Can Ask or Think”

On July 31, 2022 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

“20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21, New Living Translation)

I know that there is a lot that I can’t do. I think that I frequently make God in my own image. However, a “god” made in my image is a very small god indeed. On the other hand, the Apostle Paul had a God who was extremely powerful, wise, and loving.

The quote from Ephesians that leads off this post are the verses of the day in the YouVersion app. As the author of the story that comments on these verses notes, when read in its context, these verses are not primarily about God’s power in the lives of individuals. Instead, the context invites us to realize God’s power to overcome really serious divisions in our society. In Paul’s day, this was the division between Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 3:1-19).

The author of the comments on these verses in the YouVersion notes that this would be like Yankees fans and Red Sox fans loving one another, or like Democrats and Republicans actually valuing one another.

Now that’s power! It is a power that only God has. Yet God also gives such power to us. It is, according to Paul, God’s “. . . mighty power at work within us . . .”! If we are to love people who are “not like us” (and who is like us, when it comes down to it?), we will need this power. If we try to work up a power like that, the divisions will go on their not-so-merry way, dividing us from everyone else, God, and our own better selves.

Only God can bring oneness into our divided hearts and world.

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