Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

This doxology has an idea in it that is of extreme importance, but that we have great difficulty accepting, and that is the point that God is able to do “immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.” We choke at that! Human religion is generated out of human imagination, and produces merely human results. We frankly don’t like to admit that God is far above, far greater, than all of that. It comes back to Isaiah’s description of an idol maker, carving an idol and praying to it, all the while using the rest of the same piece of wood for firewood. (Isaiah 44:13-17) We are so foolish! If our God is not transcendent, we are doing no more than worshiping ourselves – which we love to do! When we pray we need to realize that whatever we are praying about, it’s no big deal for God. He doesn’t rubber-stamp human prayers, but somehow He includes them in His overarching plans for the universe, and that in itself violates human logic! Power and ability are never issues with God. This doxology comes right after Paul’s prayer that we may “know [God’s] love that surpasses knowledge.” (Ephesians 3:19) Everywhere we turn we run into the reality that God and everything He is and does are beyond human comprehension, so we are totally dependent on Him revealing Himself to us. Actually, the whole Bible is a record of that. It is a testimony to His love that He has gone to such lengths to reveal Himself to us, even to the point of sending His Son.

Growing up in the home that I did, I thought I knew God and His love pretty well. I only knew the smallest fraction! My intellectual pride wanted to define God, and time and again He has shattered that definition. Just recently I have learned of people that I thought had died as unbelievers were actively seeking God as they neared the end. I may yet meet them in heaven! Yesterday I watched a testimony of a near-death experience (NDE) that certainly had some unconventional theology, but I can’t say that man didn’t have a very genuine encounter with God, and he was an adamant atheist before he died that first time. He is certainly a transformed person now! I know in my mind that God is both infinitely smarter and infinitely stronger than I am, but my stupid human pride doesn’t want to live that way. I am not to proclaim anything that isn’t in the Bible, but I need help in recognizing the boxes into which I’ve tried to put God, even while saying that we can’t put God into a box! Pride indeed makes us stupid. In full humility I need to recognize and receive all that He has been trying to show me all along, so that I may be transformed into the son, the servant, the instrument that He desires, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this strong reminder. I have used this passage countless times in talking with others, yet need to internalize it better myself! Help me be done with limiting You in any way, so that You will be free to use me or not use me as You desire, for Your glory alone. Thank You. Praise God!