Many people are familiar with John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." That is our hope. Believing in Him (Jesus) is our salvation; our promise of everlasting life. Unless you've been living in a cave, you've heard this. It's good news. Yet there are many that have not made this important choice - one that has to be made BEFORE the fulfillment of everlasting life with Him in heaven. Max Lucado has even written a book entitled 3:16 and, for those of us who have put our faith in Christ, there are abundant resources available to support our efforts to bring as many people to heaven with us as possible.
But there is another important 3:16 in the bible that was brought to my attention recently. It's a passage that packs a tremendous punch of great power and promise. I'm talking about Ephesians 3:16 and it's subsequent verses: 16 "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being" 17 "SO THAT Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being ROOTED and established in love", 18 "may have power, together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ" 19 "and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." WOW:O) Can you get your arms around that?
This passage in Ephesians was written by the apostle Paul as a prayer for the Ephesians; that they (the church) may have the fulfillment of Christ in their lives. It can also be a prayer for US, as the church; that we may be strengthened in our innermost being through his spirit. The (Holy Spirit) within us should permeate every fiber of our being; especially our heart, as He cultivates and strengthens our faith. The Master Gardener has planted his love within us. If we can grasp this, it should only yield a power of understanding; one that gives us a supernatural wisdom of the infiniteness of our God in, around and beyond us. Grasping that power and love, as individuals, and as the church, is our key to the abundant life here on earth.
Yes, John 3:16 if our hope for the future; for eternity. Ephesians 3:16, and its supporting verses, should be our hope and our prayer for the present. Let's pray for that kind of understanding and power in our lives; that we may truly live a life that represents that God, himself, lives within us. How can we live ordinary, uneventful lives when we grasp this amazing truth? I contend that we cannot. We have to live as if we are filled to the measure of the fullness of God. Let's radiate that power...tap the energy source that lives within us. God's wonderful gift of his Holy Spirit is within us if we have trusted in his son Jesus. Don't waste such a glorious gift by leaving it all wrapped up...Open it up and live life to the fullest!
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