Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Day 341: Ephesians 1, 2 and 3

That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead. (Ephesians 1:19,20)

Here in the middle of Advent we turn to a text more commonly taught at Easter. Paul implies that our enemy does not want us to know the power available to us, which is the same power displayed when God raised Jesus from the dead. How would it change our outlook on life if we really believed this was true? That God's resurrection power has been made available to us?

If God's power is strong enough to bring his dead Son back to life, can it not breathe life into a dying congregation? Can it not provide a family's needs in a down economy? ...bring wayward children back into the arms of their parents? ...restore one's moral and financial integrity? What about broken trust? If God's power could raise Christ from the dead, can it not resurrect a marriage? What is there that God's resurrection power cannot do?

Paul closes this portion of his letter with a prayer: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us... (3:20). Again we are prodded to arise from our commonness, our fatalism, and realize that we are no ordinary people; we have been infused with the very power of God.

And for what do you need God's incomparable power this week?

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