Possible

August 26, 2018

There really is no excuse for living half-heartedly, dragging ourselves through days and nights repeatedly stumbling into the same snares. Peter tells us that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 1:3), which means the provision is there if we will just take advantage of it. Paul expands upon this in his prayer for the Ephesian Christians in the first chapter of his letter by that name. Listen to what he prays:

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of is power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.” 

That is quite a mouthful, but it boils down to three things Paul prays for the Ephesian Christians: He wants them to know (1) hope, (2) riches, and (3) power. In other words, he prays that we have the motivation, the resources, and the ability to live the life God has called us to live (vv. 18-19) All this comes through knowing Christ, as he prays in v. 17 that God the Father give us wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him (Christ). 

I have to admit that in me Paul’s prayer has too often gone unanswered. Like someone who stubs his toe walking through a darkened room instead of turning on the light so he can see where he is going, I’ve failed to turn on the switch, and consequently have stubbed many a spiritual toe in the darkness of my heart. It’s not necessary. All I need for life and godliness is available simply by knowing Christ. I want to be the answer to Paul’s prayer, and am thankful tonight that it’s within reach, if I will simply believe and stretch out my hand.