T H E O P H I L U S

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

-Ephesians 3:14-21

Before I began attending seminary, there was a pastor who had taken me in to mentor and test my calling. Pastor Paul An was a strong man of faith, who displayed a very charismatic confidence in the Lord and showed very little fear in any sort of obstacle. He was a warrior of sorts that was excited to face challenges and was always up for anything that came his way. There was one thing that he had always said to me that stuck in my heart all these years: “James, look up the word ‘impossible’ in the dictionary. Tear it out of the book and throw it away because nothing is impossible for our God!” I’ve never heard from anyone out of all the pastors I have met, such a confidence in the Lord. To this day, that powerful statement has stayed with me, and would especially come back to me when I have moments of fear and doubt.

But where does one begin to see the power of God at work in our lives? Paul outlines to us in Ephesians 3 that it comes from kneeling before the Father. It begins in prayer. When we are not able to resolve a conflict, when we are not able to work things out, who else can? Do we have the confidence and assurance to pray and acknowledge that God is able to do anything especially that which glorifies him? If it means that he receives the glory, what could be impossible for him? It is when we submit and surrender our requests before him that he is glorified, and it is where He is able to bring his great intervention, in the way He pleases.

Today, what is it that seems most impossible, out of reach, or out of control in your life? Our challenge may be today to acknowledge that there is no place, situation, person, or thing that is too wide, long, high, or deep for God to overcome and have his way with. If it is a struggle we face, or a task that seems too large for us, remember that when we begin in prayer, he is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. But there is a small catch. God not only transforms the situation, but also transforms us in the process. As much as he can just simply display his greatness, he also desires to form us and have us grow a more intimate reliance on his grace and power – that we come to know how great his love is for us.

Submit all that seems too large of a challenge for your life today, and open your heart that he should also be at work within you; so that you should know Christ and the depth of his love. It is in that encounter which God finds most pleasure, and it is in you which he seeks his glory and displays his power.

In Honor and Remembrance of

Reverend Paul An

November 7, 1964 – December 4, 2014

May you be at peace and rest in the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ

One Year Bible (oneyearbibleonline.com):

Exodus 8:1-9:35
Matthew 19:13-30
Psalm 24:1-10
Proverbs 6:1-5