jon mark

so you guessed it, i’m still in ephesians and moving along slowly. paul is writing to the church at ephesis and today i am going to look at yet another prayer that he offers. i finished up chapter 3 and verses 14-21 are packed with some good stuff!!!

14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. (NLT)

paul goes into how he is praying for them…again for them to be growing spiritually and not for them to be comfortable and all that sugar coated crap…for them to have understanding of God’s love…there’s an easy task right? (i don’t know that i can ever understand loving me to the point that He would sacrifice His only Son, or at least not until i meet Him face to face.) paul is praying for some really deep stuff.  

and paul hits on this in verse 19…though it is too great to understand fully…i’m feeling a little better when i get to that statement. but the second half of verse 19 is where it’s at for me…then you will be made complete…after i experience the love of Christ…then i will be made complete…

wait, wait…this means that i am already complete? i’ve already experienced the love of Christ in my life. i’ve already experienced His saving grace…so why is it that i continue to search for things in life that will make me, me…or more prepared…or make me feel better about myself…or make more people like me…well, because though i’ve experienced it, i haven’t fully understood it yet.

according to paul i’m complete, right now, because i have experienced the love of Christ in my life. and not only am i complete…now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work withing me, to accomplish infinitely more than i might ask or think…but God can use me to accomplish His will…to do more than i can even fathom!!!

then…now?!?! it’s time for me to realize that i am complete and God is able to do amazing things through me…it’s time for me to stop thinking about me and the mistakes i’ve made…it’s time for me to stop getting in the way and let God show what His grace and His love are capable of doing…

 then…now

what about you? are you complete? is then…now?