More Than We Can Ask
Posted by: forthrightmag <forthrightmag@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Going straight to the Cross
Good news and bad news. And the bad news isn't so
bad after all.
More Than We Can Ask
by Randal Matheny
Remember the story of the genie in the lamp? The
lucky fellow who stubbed his toe over the old
brass piece rubs it and -- Whoosh! -- out comes
the genie who offers him three wishes. Ask for
anything, your wish is my command.
The story gets our "wanter" working overtime. We
begin to line up our three wishes. New car, new
carpet, new make-over, new mate.
It's Fantasy Island, our favorite dream.
I have good news and bad news for you.
First, the good news.
Next to the Almighty, the genie is a wimp. And the
God of hosts will give you your heart's desire.
Anything. Not just three wishes, as many requests
as you want to make. He is able to do infinitely
more than all we ask or think (Eph. 3:20). No
limits. No restrictions.
Now, the bad news.
The context of Ephesians 3:20 to which I just
referred is intercession (verses 14-19). Ask
anything, as long as it's for someone else and
their spiritual progress.
Paul had just prayed for the Christians in
Ephesus, that they might have the power of the
Spirit, the love of Christ, and the complete
fullness of God. A tall order. Three tremendously
huge requests. Three intense desires on his part
that someone might consider as probable as asking
for the moon.
Not so, says the apostle, and here he interrupts
for a powerful doxology (exclamation of praise).
This interruption in Ephesians 3:20-21 is not
garnish or decoration, but the meat of the whole
letter.
We can ask such impossible things and expect him
to answer, because we ask them according to his
will as we intercede for other people's knowledge
of and walk with God.
"Now to him who by the power at work within us is
able to do far more abundantly than all that we
ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and
ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21, RSV).
Come to think of it, that's not such bad news at
all. Just needs some exclamation points in place
of the periods, don't you think?
So chuck the fake genie lamp, and get on your
knees.