Today’s Podcast
Today’s Scriptures
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – Ephesians 1:15-23
Set – Ephesians 1-2
Go! – Ephesians 1-4
Ephesians 1:15-23
15 This is why, when I heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus that is present in your community and of your great love for all God’s people, 16 I haven’t stopped thanking Him for you. I am continually speaking to Him on your behalf in my prayers. Here’s what I say:
17 God of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, Father of Glory: I call out to You on behalf of Your people. Give them minds ready to receive wisdom and revelation so they will truly know You. 18 Open the eyes of their hearts, and let the light of Your truth flood in. Shine Your light on the hope You are calling them to embrace. Reveal to them the glorious riches You are preparing as their inheritance. 19 Let them see the full extent of Your power that is at work in those of us who believe, and may it be done according to Your might and power.
Friends, it is this same might and resurrection power that 20 He used in the Anointed One to raise Him from the dead and to position Him at His right hand in heaven. There is nothing over Him. 21 He’s above all rule, authority, power, and dominion; over every name invoked, over every title bestowed in this age and the next. 22 God has placed all things beneath His feet and anointed Him as the head over all things for His church. 23 This church is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus reminds them and you of the power at your disposal. Many Christians today forget what I told you while I was with you in the flesh. I told My disciples that when I went away and sent My Spirit in My place that you would do miracles on My behalf and you would do more than I was able to do while I lived alongside you. It’s an important promise to remember. And it is absolutely true.
Because so few really experience what Paul experienced in his life, you don’t see the things that happened in Paul’s day on a wholesale basis. I can still do those things through you, and do around the world. I still perform miracles of healing, feeding, financing, driving out unclean spirits. I still heal broken relationships, mend confused and broken minds, guide decisions. I still save you from the penalty of sin.
You see, I chose men and women to carry out the tasks in My plan for the world. I chose you to share the message of My good news. I chose ordinary people to do extraordinary things through the power of My Spirit within them. And all it takes is letting Me have control of your life and then letting Me work through you.
Paul talks about the power available to you. Do you ever think about that power? The power I give you? The resurrection power. So many of you try to do things in your own strength. Consequently, you do so little. Your strength gives out. Your muscles, intellect, and spirit are never strong enough to do the work I have for you to do. You might try, but you just can’t do it alone. You’ll never be strong enough by yourself. No matter how much you try, you’ll never have the strength to complete My tasks.
Paul knew that the power that raised Me from the dead is available to you when you give yourself completely to Me. Paul gave himself to Me and let My Spirit control him. He saw what My power in you can do and so he penned those words in very opening of his letter to the Ephesians. “Let them see the full extent of Your power that is at work in those of us who believe, and may it be done according to Your might and power.”
It only takes believing. It only takes letting go of self. It only takes dying to your will and letting My will live out through you. It only takes being resurrected a new creature in Me, being reborn into My kingdom. It only takes becoming what Paul called a living sacrifice for Me. It only takes becoming an instrument for My bidding. Then, like Peter and Paul, you’ll do things you never imagined. You’ll tap into My power source. You’ll use the strength of the Creator of the universe.
When you do My will at all times, letting Me really live in you, you will experience remarkable things. Your schedule will turn upside down as you live for Me. Your journey will take you along paths you never imagined. You will know the full extent of My power at work in you as you do My will. Others will be amazed, but others will want to know more about the power in you.
Few will pay the price to know My power within them. Few will really die to self to let Me truly live within them. Will you be among the few?
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