"For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. --Ephesians 1:15-23
Now that we have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, Paul exhorts to us that we should get to know God. Warren Wriesbe writes, "The believer must grow in his knowledge of God. To know God personally is salvation. To know his increasingly is sanctification. To know his perfectly is glorification. Since we are made in the image of God, the better we know God, the better we know ourselves and each other.It is not enough to know God only as savior. We must get to know Him as Father, Friend, Guide, and the better we know him, the more satisfying our spiritual lives will be."
Know God's Calling
The word, Church, literally means, "called out." Which is really what we are. The Bible makes it clear that each and every person who has been saved through faith, was first called by God. (Galatians 1:15, 1 Timothy 1:9, 1 Peter 2:9 and 1 Peter 5:10.) We can take peace in this calling, because Jesus tells us that those who his father has called and delivered can not be snatched from his hand. The fact that God has called us out tells us that there is hope in a future with Christ. Knowing God's call and knowing that we will one day see Christ and be like him should motivate us to live like Christ today.
Know God's Riches
I find it interesting that the riches that this passage talks about are not monetary riches, or a vast knowledge or even "the riches stored up in heaven." This passage talks about God's riches being you and I. God knows that those who he has called and saved are capable of doing great things in his name. God views you and I as valued possessions and just as a man's riches bring glory to his name, you and I will bring glory to the name of God.
Know God's Power
What good is it to have wealth if you are too weak to use it? Paul tells us that our God knows nothing of this dilemma. He is a powerful God. His great power was proven to us in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. God did more than merely raising Him from the dead. Christ also ascended to heaven and sat down in the place of authority at the right hand of God. He is more than just our Savior. He is also sovereign over everything. (Acts 2:25-36) There has never been anyone or anything greater than Him and there never will be.
Today my challenge to you is to take Wiersbe's commentary to heart. Get to know your God. Don't stop at His calling, His riches and His power. Go beyond that and journey down the path of sanctification until one day his promise is fulfilled and you know him completely.
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