Moved to Pray: Reflecting on the Riches of God's Love

Ephesians 3:14–21

One of the beautiful things about reading Paul's letters is that he often lets us listen in on his prayers. Ephesians 3:14–21 is one of those moments.

Paul writes:
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father..."

Immediately, a question comes to mind: What is the reason? Why is Paul so moved that he falls to his knees in prayer?

To answer that, we have to look back at what he has been saying throughout the earlier part of Ephesians 3.

Paul has been reflecting on the mystery of the gospel—a mystery that, throughout history, had only been revealed to a select few before now being made known through Christ. He is humbled and amazed that God would graciously include him among those entrusted to proclaim this mystery to the saints in Ephesus.

He also recognizes that God has lavished His riches upon His people so that the church would reveal God's wisdom, glory, and eternal plan to the world.

But what exactly are these riches?

When Paul repeatedly speaks of God's riches and His lavish grace, I believe he is speaking primarily about relationship with God Himself.

The riches of God are not merely blessings that come from Him—they are God giving Himself to us.

These riches include the indwelling Holy Spirit, Jesus as our Lord, and perhaps most astonishingly, our ability to approach the Father with confidence because we belong to Him.

Earlier in chapter 3, Paul says that in Christ we have "boldness and access."

To us, those words may sound ordinary, but to Paul's original audience they would have carried powerful royal imagery.

Imagine approaching Caesar.

In the Roman world, no one casually walked into the emperor's presence. You approached with fear and trembling. Respect was expected, and boldness from someone outside his inner circle could easily be interpreted as arrogance—or even treason.

Perhaps Caesar had a handful of trusted people who could approach him freely. If he had no one with that kind of access, it likely would have resulted in isolation, betrayal, or conspiracy.

Now compare that with God.

The King of kings invites those in His family to approach Him boldly.

Not only are we welcomed into His presence, but we are invited to call Him by His intimate family name: Abba, Father.

Earthly emperors offered limited, if any, access to ordinary people. Access was reserved for those born into the right family or those possessing immense wealth.
Yet God, in His immeasurable riches, did what no earthly king would ever do.
He gave His own Son so that people like us could have unrestricted access to Him.
What incredible love from the true King.

This is why Paul bows his knees. As he reflects on God's love, God's grace, and God's generosity—even while sitting in prison—he cannot help but pray. His circumstances do not overshadow God's goodness. Instead, God's goodness overshadows his circumstances.

That challenges me.

• How often do I stop long enough to reflect on what God has done?
• How often am I so overwhelmed by His grace that I am moved to pray?
• How often do I consider all that God is accomplishing through His people—even in suffering—and find myself on my knees before Him?

When we reflect on the price God paid to give us access to Himself, prayer becomes a natural response.

Access means more than permission to approach God. It means adoption. Through Christ we have become part of God's family. We now stand alongside all those who have faithfully trusted Him throughout history.

Jesus is our elder Brother, the One who satisfied the righteous demands of the law on our behalf. Now, when the Father looks at us, He sees the righteousness of Christ. He acknowledges us as His own. This truly is an elite family—but not because of anything its members have accomplished. It is elite because of the One with whom we are associated. We are who we are because of Jesus.

Like a loving Father, God equips His children for the work He calls them to do. Unlike earthly fathers, God gives us His own Spirit. Simply put, He has the riches to do so.
The Holy Spirit strengthens us to accomplish God's will, which Paul has already described as making the gospel known through the church—even in the midst of suffering.

This means God prepares us for every season. Whether life is joyful or painful, we are not left to rely on our own strength. The endless resources of God's Spirit sustain us. Not only so that we can endure, but so that we can press forward, proclaim Christ, and testify to how deeply God has loved us and what He has rescued us from.

God saved us from spiritual death. He didn't simply give us new life. He gave us Himself through the Holy Spirit so that we could live lives that reflect Him.

If the Holy Spirit dwells within us, then Christ truly dwells in our hearts through faith. This fulfills what God promised long ago through the prophet Jeremiah:

"I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts... I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Jeremiah 31:33)

This new covenant reminds us that everything we have received comes through faith.
We did not earn any of it. We simply receive what God graciously gives. Even the faith by which we believe is something we are incapable of producing apart from His grace.

If all of this is true, then we should truly taste and see that the Lord is good. We should allow ourselves to be shaped by His love. Grounded in His love. Rooted in His love. God's love should become the foundation upon which we build our church, our relationships, and our pursuit of holiness.

As Paul prepares in the following chapters to instruct believers on how they ought to live, he first reminds them of something essential. Before hearing the commands of God, they must first remember the love of God. Every call to obedience is framed by the immeasurable cost of our salvation. God spared no expense. He gave His only Son so that we might be conformed into His image and live for His glory.

Paul prays that believers would know the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ's love—a love that ultimately surpasses knowledge. There are several realities we must continue reflecting on if we are to remain grounded in that love. First, we must understand that love is not merely something God does. Love is part of who He is.

It is essential that we learn how His love harmonizes with every other aspect of His character. Second, we must remember what God actually saved us from. The depth of His love becomes clearer when we remember the depth of our need. We should never lose sight of the price He was willing to pay or the investment He made by placing His own Spirit within us.

Finally, we must accept that knowing God's love is a lifelong pursuit. The infinite nature of God means we will never exhaust our understanding of Him. We are learning about Someone who is infinitely beyond our capacity to comprehend. Yet something remarkable happens as we continue pursuing Him. The more we know Him, the more we are filled with Him.

Paul concludes with one of the most beloved doxologies in all of Scripture. He acknowledges that even his own prayer cannot fully express everything God's people truly need. So he entrusts the unanswered parts of his prayer to the God who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or imagine. God fills the gaps. Not because of our ability, but because of His. Not for our fame, but for His glory.

As we enjoy the riches of knowing God and the access Christ has purchased for us, we are drawn into greater unity as His people. His glory becomes our joy. His purposes become our purpose. And His church continues to display His wisdom from generation to generation.

To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.