EPHESIANS 3:20

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,”

A number of years ago there was a toy that was produced based on the Toy Story movie character Buzz Lightyear. This spaceman would pop out his collapsible wings on his spacesuit and proclaim, “To Infinity and Beyond,” as he jumped (and usually fell). Kids loved this toy. I can still hear kids screaming his words, lol.

Today’s verse has a phrase that is kind of expressed with that same motto. Paul says, as he describes God, “who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.” In other words, Paul says we just can’t put into words what God can do. We are going to look at some of the words in that phrase below, but just think a second about what Paul was trying to portray to the Ephesians in this statement. Think about where they were, surrounded by all these false gods. Only One was truly able to do this.

APPLICATION

The Greek word translated as “far more abundantly” is a compound Greek word with the preposition uper. Don’t let me lose you here. Uper intensifies the other words it is attached to. In fact, of the 28 compound words in the New Testament using uper, Paul uses 20 of them. He obviously like that preposition to strengthen the words he was writing. The word used here is only used three times in the New Testament. Here and in 1 Thessalonians 3:10 and 5:13.

1 Thessalonians 3:10 says, “as we keep praying most earnestly night and day that we may see your faces, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?” Have you ever prayed that way? Have you ever prayed superabundantly? And in 1 Thessalonians 5:13 we see, “and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.” Have you done that? Have you ever regarded someone that highly.

Don’t forget that every single word of Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16). There’s a reason we see this word used here to define how we pray about God, how we pray for others and how we regard others. Hmm, there might just be a pattern laid out for us to consider. Don’t you think?

Father, I know You see me glorified, even now. Give me Your eyes to see others the way You do.