COMPREHENDING THE MAGNITUDE

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-19)

Devotion 19 of 20

THE SCOPE OF THE PRAYER
" . . . that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."

     Notice the words "filled," "all," and "fulness." They portray the nature of your salvation. "FILLED with ALL the FULNESS of God." This expression is of such magnitude that you sense it is not possible to reach a point in this world where the prayer is fully realized. It is held before us as the objective of God working within us, and is large enough to be the unending emphasis of our life.

      Christ has brought full and satisfying provision for humanity.  he has done this in a holy and just manner. He has also so accomplished the work so as to put salvation in all of its fulness within our reach.

      There is nothing imitative about redemption. Sin emptied and consumed us. Grace correspondingly fills and equips us. Ignorance once dominated and robbed us. Spiritual knowledge and understanding must now permeate our spirits, making us adequate for challenge of preparing for the day of judgment and eternity with Jesus.

      You may rest assured Paul did more than imagine in this prayer, stating a mere wish that did not really comport with reality. He was praying in accord with God's "eternal purpose" and Christ's reconciliation of the world! This prayer was the overflow of a discerning heart, and the result of fellowship with Christ Jesus.

    The level of spiritual wisdom and understanding in the professed Christian community is appalling. When it comes to understanding "the things of the Spirit of God" (1 Cor 2:14), the nominal church is generally like a toddling infant, unable to speak or walk. This condition is largely owing to two unfortunate conditions. First, shallow and spiritually uninformed preaching. Second, a lack of fervent and incessant prayer for God's people to be "filled" with spiritual wisdom and understanding. Thus, God's people are being directed to be satisfied with less than being filled with all the fulness of God.

      Let me be clear on the matter. God is not pleased with a process of religion that leaves people short of the very objective He has appointed. Nor, indeed, is He honored by a system that makes little of the focus of this prayer (Eph 3:14-20). I challenge you to make it your fervent quest to have this prayer answered in you.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You in Jesus' name for so clearly revealing Your desire for me. I confess to my own yearning that it be fulfilled in accordance with Your will.

-- Tomorrow: Conclusion: THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PRAYER --