One of the most dangerous things Christians often do is take a verse out of context and run with it. In doing this, they put limits on God’s Word, fitting the Word of God into their agenda. We want to have all the promises God offers His people, but we fail to put that promise in the context of what the writer is talking about. Ephesians 3:20 is one of those verses. So, it’s worth our time to take this apart.
The promise is awesome! That the power at work within me accomplishes infinitely more than I could ever ask or think. Other paraphrases translate “infinitely more” as immeasurably more (NIV), abundantly above all (KJV), far more abundantly beyond all (NASB). Every Christian wants this kind of power, right? Here’s the thing… we DO have an immeasurable power inside us…the Holy Spirit. But most Christians, including myself, do not operate in the full power. Perhaps it’s because we’re missing the means to get there. So, studying the whole context is important.
These words Paul writes comes on the heels of his power prayer to the church at Ephesus (Ephesians 3:14-19). In this prayer, he gives the source of the power… God’s love. He says that we are to grow our roots down into His love. We need to understand the depth of His love – how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. And that we need to experience His love. He says that when all these are in place, then we “will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
In clearer terms, we need to put our roots down into His love, not into others’ love, our church, our ministry, our work, our family. We need to understand that His love has no limits… it transcends all understanding. His love is unconditional, eternal. It conquers, it sustains, it protects, it carries us, and it encompasses us. When we embrace ourselves in His amazing love, we experience a love we can never explain. And then we begin to walk and operate in His mighty power… a power of unmeasured strength.
A word God gave to me for Solid Truth Ministries for 2026 is EXPAND. Maybe we should pray that God would expand His love in our hearts this year so that we can be powerful ambassadors for His Kingdom. Maybe we just need to rest in His love today, soaking in all the goodness and life His love offers. Let these words encourage you today.