The words Be strong in the Lord (10) caught my attention. That’s what Paul hoped for and prayed for. Paul did his part on behalf of the Ephesians. He prayed for them (recall his prayers in 1:15ff and 3:14ff) and he taught them. Now they needed to cooperate and put energy into their own strengthening.
Paul bids them to clothe themselves in the Lord… putting on truth (correct thinking about God), righteousness (correct living for God), readiness (preparedness to live and speak) and God’s truth. Along with these, Paul enjoins them (and us) to put on faith (belief and trust in God; that He will do what He says He will do), salvation (live in the reality of their new Christ-bought relationship with God) and finally, the word of God. How does one put on the word of God by taking it into one’s life?
Finally, now fully clothed. they (we) should pray, pray in the Spirit. Prayer makes us strong in the Lord. Prayer builds us up and prayer advances the kingdom. As we exercise the muscles of prayer we grow stronger. As we exercise the muscles of prayer for ourselves we invoke the presence and power of God in our lives. And as we exercise the muscles of prayer for and on behalf of others (i.e. intercession) the
O, God, make me a kingdom advancer. Help me clothe myself today and every day with You, Lord. To put on those things that drawer me closer to You and that help me live more fervently for You. And, Lord, teach me to pray Your prayers, prayers that come directly from the Spirit of God… In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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