APRIL MEMORY VERSE
“…and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him oat his rights hand in the heavenly realms.”
Ephesians 1:19-20
The Apostle Paul introduces us to a powerful message. Paul’s wisdom manifested in this verse emerges from his collective experience as a Pharisee (who believed in monotheism, the Old Testament’s covenant of laws, miracles, and an afterlife). His adaptation of stoic virtues and his own personal miracle of transformation led to his deep passion for Christ.
Incomprehensible Power: Omnipotence—Omnipresence—Omniscience. The miracle of Creation (creatio ex nihilo is translated “created out of nothing”) reflects God’s infinite wisdom, love, and strength, and is only surpassed by Christ’s resurrection. God has now empowered us through the Holy Spirit—the power that transforms our lives and brings us to eternal life. In his book Miracles, C.S. Lewis shares his affirmation of this verse. Lewis states: “There are two miracles: 1. Old Creation, the creation of the universe, life, and imago Dei [we are born in his image]; 2. New Creation, Christ’s incarnation, resurrection and ascension; and God’s promise of eternal life through Christ.”¹
At His ascension, Christ took His place, seated at God’s right hand. This is a divine declaration that Christ ascended to God’s right side by which Christ was given equal authority, equal wisdom, equal power, and equal blessings with His Father. We are now invited and expected to use that power to change our lives and the lives of those we touch. Proverbs 19:21 states, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it’s the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
We are assured and given confidence that we are made in His image. God’s creation and Christ’s resurrection have a purpose—His purpose. As Christ served, He chose us to serve as well, bringing about His kingdom on earth. He knew us even before time. He stamped His approval on our hearts and blessed us with everlasting life through the resurrection of His Son. Ephesians 1:4-5 states, “For he [God] chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”
This verse clarifies that we should not feel overwhelmed by God’s expectations of us; we are empowered through His self-less, unconditional love and His Spirit living within us. As a community of believers, we have been blessed with immeasurable power and strength to live the life of Christ and to share it with the world. Can you imagine?!
by Elder Scott Flaig
¹C.S. Lewis, Miracles: A Preliminary Study, London, England: HarperCollins, 1947, p. 215
