When I stopped to meditate on this passage I got to thinking
what an amazing goal this is. I’m especially focusing on the phrase “and
attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding….” Paul’s desire
for his people is that reach and discover all
the riches of full
understanding. How does this take place? I think it takes place on two fronts.
The first is in the heart of the person and their desire to grow in their
understanding and the second is in the instruction they receive in their local
church.
When God saves a person He gives him or her the desire and
motivation to grow. God’s seed is in him (1 John 3:9), and he has the Holy
Spirit indwelling him. These changes that take place when a soul is regenerated
are essentially the giving of spiritual life when there was none before and
this life has the natural desire for spiritual food, just like a human infant
has a desire for food (1 Peter 2:2). So it is appropriate for Paul to have this
as a prayer request and vision for his people.
Second, it’s important for the individual Christian to be
regularly attending a local gathering of believers where the Word of God is
taught in all its fullness and power. Each one of us needs to have the Word of
God opened and exposed to our understanding so that we begin to see the depth
of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God (Romans 11:33). The depth of
God’s wisdom cannot be plumbed, nevertheless, Paul frequently prays that people
would see the bounds of what is boundless and understand what is beyond
understanding (see Ephesians 3:18 for example).
So for this desire and prayer of Paul to be realized, each
of us must eagerly approach the Word with all of the spiritual discipline we
can bring to bear and pastors must expound and explain the Scriptures in such a
way that the people begin to fathom the knowledge of the mystery of God, both
of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge.
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