I love that the book of Ephesians was written by a man who murdered Christians and was later put to prison for his faith (not for the murders though). If God can do a good work through a flawed human like that, I think He can use me, and I think He can use you, too. And Paul writes that God does more than we can ask or think according to His power within us, through Him. I need to constantly remind myself that I have access to His spirit no matter what mess I have gotten myself into!

The verse that precedes this one talks about how the love of Christ surpasses all knowledge. I love the image of Paul sitting in a damp, dark cell with ink and papyrus, his cup overflowing with Christ’s love for him despite the acts of hate he committed. The irony of Paul authoring this message is almost unfathomable. In Galatians, he mentions that his handwriting was ‘large’, so I picture huge, jumbled block letters still used as scripture today. I imagine a beautiful, clean papyrus massacred to the human eye, but profound when understood. His physical body was in prison, but he was free. His body, caged by humans, wrote words that would last forever.

And I equally love the second part of the passage. “To him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.” That power written through prison ink is the same as the one you just read above, typed on a laptop. Paul could not have known that you would be reading this devotional today,  but God’s word lasts forever!