In “The New Hendrickson Parallel Bible,” Ephesians 3:14-21, the New Living Translation (NLT) is entitled “Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth.”
This scripture says, “14 When I think of all this (read Ephesian 1:1 to 3:13 NLT), I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
In verse 18 of this scripture, I want to emphasize that God’s love embraces everyone (how wide), God’s love appears in your hell (how long), God’s love extends from earth to His throne (how high), and God’s love is shown in His unconditional love (how deep).
God will give you the inner strength to endure all to a glorious end (verse 16). In all this we are able “to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (verse 20) because of the love God has for us. His love surpasses any love between humans. However, we are to read our Holy Bible to seek out God’s many examples of His mercy and love through His grace so that we can follow His pattern of the way to live and the way to love. Let us not take His grace for granted, but we must obey God’s doctrines. It is for our good, and so how He loves us!
God Bless You All!
Brenda A. McGee has attended New York Theological Seminary in New York, NY, and Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA as a Master of Divinity student.