Verse of the Day 7/3

Verse of the Day 7/3

Ephesians 3:16-17

Holman Christian Standard Bible

16 I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, 17 and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love,

In yesterday's post we considered how John said that we "know that we have passed from death to life" when we love our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Paul spoke of this transition in Ephesians 2 saying that we were dead, but God made us alive in Christ.

In today's passage Paul expounds on what this means for us.  We aren't "made alive" and then left to fend for ourselves.  He gives us the power, the strength the grace to live for Him, established in His love and this love works its way out in our lives as we serve and love God and others.

I'm reminded of the old hymn, "Make Me a Blessing".  Read the words to the hymn below, they show what it looks like to be strengthened and established in love - "carrying sunshine", telling the story of Christ and His love; giving to those in need; and being a helper to the helpless.  Let us consider how we may do so today.

1 Out in the highways and byways of life,
many are weary and sad;
are weary and sad
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife
making the sorrowing glad.

Refrain:
Make me a blessing,
Make me a blessing,
Out of my life
out of my life
May Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O savior, I pray,
I pray Thee, my Savior,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

2 Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love;
Tell of His pow'r to forgive;
His pow'r to forgive.
Others will trust Him if only you prove
true ev'ry moment you live.

Refrain:

3 Give as 'twas given to you in your need;
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed;
Unto your mission be true.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Ephesians 3:14-21

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Prayer for Spiritual Power

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father[a]

Eph 3:14-21 HCSB - - Bible Gateway

 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, 17 and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God's love, 19 and to know the Messiah's love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— 21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.