Eph. 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do...
far...
more...
abundantly...
beyond...
all...
that we ask or think,
according to the power that works within us,
to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
The culmination of the first three chapters of Ephesians are these words in 3:20-21. They are a benediction often recited in church, but they are more than that. They are the words of overview, of conclusion about all that Paul has written in the first three chapters.
Read these words again and watch as Paul tries to overwhelm you with the vastness, the greatness, the amazing provision of God in Christ,
Now...
to Him...
who is able to do...
far...
more...
abundantly...
beyond...
all...
that we ask or think,
What Paul is trying to say is that your prayers can never come close to all that God wants to do in your lives, you can never ask big enough prayers, never reach the limit of his provision, never exhaust his willingness to answer.
What Paul is saying is that God is much bigger, much more able, much more willing than you have ever imagined, ever dreamed, to meet every need of your life. It's encapsulated in his grand provision for our salvation. He didn't just do "enough", but he did...
far...
more...
abundantly...
beyond...
all...
we could ever need for salvation.
In other words no one can sin so much that they could or would exhaust the grace and forgiveness of God. He would never say to anyone, "Oh, I'm sorry, you went over the line, I can't forgive THAT!" His provisions for our sins is far more than we will ever need. As strange as it sounds, his forgiveness is far more than our sin.
In the same way he has provided for everything else in our lives in the same lavish over the top way. He has provided...
far...
more...
abundantly...
beyond...
all...
that we ask or think,
and he's able and willing to meet our needs, answer our prayers, extend his grace, forgive our sins, and demonstrate his love in this far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think fashion.
God wants you to know he's the most lavish provider and giver you will ever know or experience. He wants to give far more than you could ever ask, ever imagine, ever dream!
He will show it to you, give it to you, forgive those sins, extend that grace, answer that prayer to demonstrate his over-the-top-beyond-your-imagination love provided in Jesus Christ!
Why is he doing all this? Why did Jesus have to die? Why is God still reaching out to us, loving us, forgiving us, meeting our needs?
He's doing it so that everyone will see his love, his amazing love poured out "lavishly" through what Christ did for us to meet every need, heal every wound, answer every prayer, forgive every sin....so that in everything Jesus Christ will be praised...to the glory of God!
It's far more than you could ever imagine or even dream!
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