FILLED WITH GOD (30 OF 49)
Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21
This content is part of a series.
Filled with God (30 of 49)
Lectionary, Year B, Proper 12
Christopher B. Harbin
Ephesians 3:14-21
We've all heard about the glass that is half-empty, half-full, for simply waiting to be refilled. Truth be told, it is pretty hard to get an empty glass, for at sea-level there are 14 pounds of air pressure per square inch filling it. Even in what we call the void of space, scientists tell us there is no complete vacuum, as the particles of matter there are simply further apart due to the pull of gravity. In our reality, it is only a case of how we choose to fill a glass. In spiritual terms, the same applies. Do we choose to be filled with God's presence to the exclusion of all else?
Ephesians is somewhat different from Paul's other epistles on several counts. He does not seem to be addressing any particular problem in a particular church. There is some confusion as to whether this letter was directed to any one specific church or was more of a circular epistle for churches of the region. What is abundantly clear, however, is that this letter exudes perhaps more than others the sense of Paul's life and writing as bathed in prayer. Prayer in this sense, however, is somewhat different in that it is an extension of Paul's life as immersed in God's presence.
As Paul begins his letter, he speaks of the believer's blessings from connection to Christ Jesus in a manner reminiscent of a prayer, even if it does not include God as his specific addressee. In today's passage, he takes up again this language of prayer, once more speaking somewhat generically about his prayer for the believers. This prayer is not focused on any specific problem that needed to be resolved in the life of a church. Paul instead shares his dreams, joys, and ambitions for a believer's life with God. He invites us to participate in his practice of placing one's life wholly under the direction of God. He invites us to reflect with him on what it means to be drenched in God's presence, to find o ...
Lectionary, Year B, Proper 12
Christopher B. Harbin
Ephesians 3:14-21
We've all heard about the glass that is half-empty, half-full, for simply waiting to be refilled. Truth be told, it is pretty hard to get an empty glass, for at sea-level there are 14 pounds of air pressure per square inch filling it. Even in what we call the void of space, scientists tell us there is no complete vacuum, as the particles of matter there are simply further apart due to the pull of gravity. In our reality, it is only a case of how we choose to fill a glass. In spiritual terms, the same applies. Do we choose to be filled with God's presence to the exclusion of all else?
Ephesians is somewhat different from Paul's other epistles on several counts. He does not seem to be addressing any particular problem in a particular church. There is some confusion as to whether this letter was directed to any one specific church or was more of a circular epistle for churches of the region. What is abundantly clear, however, is that this letter exudes perhaps more than others the sense of Paul's life and writing as bathed in prayer. Prayer in this sense, however, is somewhat different in that it is an extension of Paul's life as immersed in God's presence.
As Paul begins his letter, he speaks of the believer's blessings from connection to Christ Jesus in a manner reminiscent of a prayer, even if it does not include God as his specific addressee. In today's passage, he takes up again this language of prayer, once more speaking somewhat generically about his prayer for the believers. This prayer is not focused on any specific problem that needed to be resolved in the life of a church. Paul instead shares his dreams, joys, and ambitions for a believer's life with God. He invites us to participate in his practice of placing one's life wholly under the direction of God. He invites us to reflect with him on what it means to be drenched in God's presence, to find o ...
There are 8860 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
