Daily Devotional Sunday 6th September 2020
by William MoodyEphesians 1:15–21
Thanksgiving and Prayer
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love1 toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
Footnotes
[1] 1:15
Some manuscripts omit your love (ESV)
Paul begins this section focusing on the great privilege of believers in regards their inheritance (v18) and the power working in them (v19).
Paul now moves on to focus on Christ (v20-23). Christ has been raised and seated at the Father’s right (v20). Paul explains what this means (v21-22). Jesus is in the place of authority and power far above that of any other being (v21). Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He has authority over all people and over all spiritual beings including angels and demons.
The conflict in this world between the forces of the devil and the forces of Christ is not an equal contest. The devil has great power but Christ’s power is still far, far superior.
Christ rules over all things for the sake of the church (v21). The church which so often is maligned and persecuted by the world is at the very centre of all God’s plan. The church is described as Christ’s body, which means it is very much a part of Christ. The ways of the evil one Christ restrains and controls to turn what was meant for evil into good for God’s people (Romans 8 v28).
Speak to God and praise Him for this wonderful truth.
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