Daily Bible Reading 21st September 2024 // Ephesians 1:15-22
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards 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 a 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 towards 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. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
There are two possible constructions that can be placed on the second phrase 'the riches of the glory of the inheritance of the saints'. On the one hand, the preposition 'in' may be fairly rendered 'among'. If it is taken thus, what Paul is saying is that it is possible to get to know fully the glory of that inheritance only in and through the fellowship of the people of God. It is when we are together in fellowship that the fullness dawns. This is the same thought as is expressed in 3:18 in the words 'with all saints'. The communion of saints is a wonderful means of grace. This is one reason why we are exhorted in Scripture not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. On the other hand, however, Paul does say, 'his inheritance in the saints', not ours in him - that is to say, the prayer is that we should grasp something of the meaning and purpose God has for us, what He is out to do in us for Himself, to make us satisfying to Himself, a people for His own possession. This is more integrally linked with our inheritance in Him than we might at first suppose, for all possible blessing for us derives from His having His way with us and in us. It is of supreme importance for us to know what God is aiming at in our lives. This part of Paul's prayer ought to make us pray, 'Oh God, open my eyes to see what You are doing with my life and, when I see it, give me grace to stand back and tremble lest I interfere with it in any way and blunderingly hinder the fulfilment of Your will and purpose in me'. How often do we hinder and jeopardise the divine working, by our own wilfulness, and our determination to go our own way! If only we saw clearly enough what God is out to do, we might appreciate the necessity of allowing Him free rein in our lives. Hence Paul's prayer here.