Day 5: The Supremacy of Christ
Read Ephesians 1:15-23
"For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all."
As we close out Ephesians Chapter 1, we find Paul expressing his prayers for the Ephesian believers and emphasizing the supremacy of Christ. He prays for the Ephesians to have wisdom and revelation in knowing God better, so that they may fully understand the hope, riches, and power that they have in Christ. Paul also highlights the authority and power of Christ, who is seated at the right hand of God and is the head over all things. He emphasizes that Christ is the ultimate source of power and authority for the church, which is His body. This truth encourages believers to exalt Christ in their lives and recognize His lordship in all things.
Consider
Every time I read this passage, I can't help but increase volume and fervor as I read through the paragraph. Is it just me? It's a loooong sentence for sure, but it builds as it goes, and my excitement builds with it!
Paul is building a case for Christ as the Head of the church. He is reminding the Ephesians (and us) that we must remember who we report to: Christ, who is all-powerful, is above every name, and has been given everything to rule over as Head.
Some of us may wince a little when thinking about authority, but go back and read the passage again. Read it and increase your volume and fervor as you go. It's builds a flawless case that Christ is both Supreme and Good. There's no need to fear or worry or wince. He is Good.
Take some time to think about whether or not Christ is Supreme in your life. Maybe there are areas where you need to be reminded that He is Good and then let Him reign.
Pray
Father God,
Thank You for the words of Paul that build a case for Christ as both Good and Supreme! Lord, search me and help me find areas where I need to hand over the reins to the best Leader: Christ. Amen.