Monday, May 3

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are his sanctuary.
Psalm 96:6


Begin your week with a prayer of worship focused on the splendor, majesty and glory of God.

Read:
Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Who is the richest person you know? Before you answer that question – you probably want to know how I am defining “rich.” Am I talking about the material riches of money, property and stock portfolios? Or, by “rich” do I mean some personal attribute like intelligence, wisdom or patience? Here Paul refers to the “glorious riches” of God. What kind of riches is Paul thinking about?

Earlier in chapter 1 Paul refers to the authority of Christ when he proclaims that God has placed him “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given…” (Ephesians 1:21). In that same chapter Paul introduces us to God’s grace – that he “lavished on us” through the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:8). So while God owns everything in the universe, materially speaking, when Paul thinks of the glorious riches of God – he is thinking about both God’s authority and his grace.

As the Apostle to the gentile world, Paul is writing from prison so that his readers will understand God’s authority, which includes his power, his holiness and his rule over all things, and then experience his grace, which is expressed through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Think for a moment how important it is that Paul communicates BOTH of these attributes of God. God’s authority without grace would be terrifying! What would keep this all-powerful and holy God from simply destroying what he has made and starting over again? God’s grace without his authority would become license for all many of sin and evil. But because God is rich in both we can worship him with respect and awe – but we can also draw near to him as children to a loving father!

Close your time by thanking God for sharing the riches of his authority and grace with you!

Brian Coffey