Thought of the day
Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3 keeps expanding until it reaches impossible heights. He prays that they'd grasp "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ," that they'd know a love that "surpasses knowledge," and that they'd be "filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:18-19). He's not describing a slightly improved version of you. He's describing a life saturated with God.
Then Paul writes one of the most familiar lines in Scripture: "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" (Ephesians 3:20). It's easy to hear that verse and think it's about your potential: dream bigger, believe in yourself, reach higher. But look at what Paul just prayed for . . .strength through the Spirit . . . Christ dwelling in hearts . . . being rooted in love . . . knowing a love beyond knowledge.
The subject of that famous verse isn't you and your ambition. It's God and His power. Paul isn't pointing you toward what you could accomplish if you just believed harder. He's pointing you toward what God is already doing inside you, often in ways you can't see or measure.
And notice how the chapter ends: "To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations" (Ephesians 3:21). More patience in you? He gets the glory. Somebody forgives what they thought they never could? He gets the glory. You walk through something hard and keep trusting Him anyway? He gets the glory.
This whole week has been about family resemblance, not perfection, just resemblance. If you look at your life today and don't see as much of it as you'd like, that's not a reason for shame. It's a reason to stay closer to the One who's doing immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine, whether you can feel it yet or not.