THE CLIMAX: “NOW to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen” (Eph. 3:20–21). After this climax there was nothing for Paul to say but amen! He had said all that there was to be said regarding redemption. The rest could only be commentary.
He started off this final paragraph by saying: “Now to him who by the power at work within us”—the power at work within us. God’s power to work on us is limited—limited by the extent of our cooperation, but His power at work within us is unlimited, for if it is within us it presupposes our cooperation. If there is full cooperation within us, God’s hands are untied; He is free—free to give—and how!
Paul tells us how! He is able to do what we ask and our asking seems unlimited. Paul said, “all that we ask.” The all applies to not only all we ask but all that “we ask or think”—you can think beyond your asking. And then “more” than we ask or think; and then “far more” than we ask or think; and then the last “far more abundantly.” Adjectives and adverbs fail. The rest is worship. This is the unspeakable gift. We are lost in wonder, love, and praise!
The final ascription is: “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.” “Glory in the church”—this is the glory limited—limited to this world, the period of existence of the church. Glory in Christ Jesus, however, is beyond this world and endless—“for ever and ever.” As long as we are in Christ Jesus, God is glorified. You do not have to step out of Jesus and concentrate on God to glorify God. Stay in Jesus Christ and you glorify God, for Jesus is God glorified because He is God self-giving.
O God, my Father, Thou canst do everything for us if only we live and move and have our being in Jesus. In Jesus we find Thee simplified, approachable, lovable. So we have one duty and aim—to stay in Jesus Christ. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: My one and only duty and obligation is to abide in Jesus. All else follows.
