Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us
Paul outlines the riches of God’s grace towards His people, explaining our privileged position in Christ and reminding us of the love of God, which passes all human understanding. He implores us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been summoned, to the praise and glory of God the Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. He has been explaining the length and breadth and depth and height of the good news of God’s grace towards us, and the over-abundant prosperity we already have in Christ. Paul’s desire and earnest prayer is that we understand the riches of His grace towards us and that we stand firm in the faith, grow in grace, trust in the Lord with all our heart, and become rooted and grounded in the love of Christ. And so Paul draws this inspiring and exhilarating section of His letter to the Ephesians with a psalm of praise proclaiming God’s goodness and grace. Paul desires that we “know” that God is able. Paul in this inspiring and exhilarating psalm of praise wants us to know that God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we ask or think! Which is to transform us from being fallen sinners into the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ. The abundant blessings that God gives to all who simply trust in the divine Person and atoning work of Jesus are ours “according to the power at work within us.” That inner power is not of ourselves but the supernatural workings of the Holy Spirit. For He is continuously working in the inner man that new life in Christ that we received at salvation. And in order to transform us from glory…to glory into the person and character that befits a spiritual man, a child of God, and a citizen of heaven. The Power that works within us is the Holy Spirit Who teaches, guides, rebukes, and correct us. He is forming, fashioning, and refining our inner man. He is guiding and directing us, teaching and training us, and the more that we yield to Him, the more exceedingly and abundantly will be the inner transformation into the image and likeness of Christ…until we can say with Paul: “The life that I live in this flesh is not I, but Christ that lives in me…Now to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Spiritual Steve 