Sometimes you hear someone say something like, “If you knew that today was your last day to live, what would you choose to do?” But I’m thinking about ideas that are in another direction entirely. I wonder what would happen if we were to luxuriously marinate in the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Ephesus. What would it do to our hearts, our souls, our vision? Here are three short sections of the first chapter that are ripe for it:
“I pray that the Father would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power.” (v. 16)
“Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding – this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!” (v. 19)
“Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.” (v. 20)
I wonder, too, about the effect of Paul’s words on the original readers in Ephesus. I wonder what would have happened had they read the above verses half-heartedly, mostly disappointed because he hadn’t sent a check along with the letter; would their ‘stony’ reception have forced the city wall itself to launch into praise and worship in their stead? (Chris?) Would the enemy of their souls have been delighted that they didn’t instantaneously ‘hide his words in their hearts’? Would he have used that open door to cause them to grumble, maybe nitpicking at Paul’s grammar, to be upset that he hadn’t mentioned them by name as they had been hoping, to be angry that, rather than visiting, he had chosen to simply write a letter?
I wonder if the Holy Spirit waits for our hearts to engage every time we open Scripture or hear Scripture read. I wonder if He does a bit of gentle prodding when we don’t register the truths deeply enough. I wonder if He considers it His gift to us each time and is deflated when we are blasé, taking a brief look but then tossing it aside as same-old-same-old. I wonder if He plans a personal breakthrough for each of us every single time, an answer to prayer, an added blessing. I wonder. PD