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Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen! (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Our text is well loved by many Christians and my dad choose it for his funeral. I hope you will indulge me if I use a few Wilderness Wanderings to explore these words. I will not say much about my dad or his funeral, but it is such a wonderful, hopeful text, its worth our time and attention.

It comes as a doxology to a prayer the apostle Paul wrote for his young churches in Ephesus. Doxology is the Latin word for \u2018give glory to\u2019. Old Testament Psalms frequently conclude in doxology. Many of us have learned to end our prayers with doxology because we wrap up the Lord\u2019s prayer with \u201cfor yours is the kingdom and the power and glory forever.\u201d

Now here is a little secret. You will not find this ending in either of the gospels that record Jesus\u2019 teaching on prayer. However, it was so ingrained in the Jews to end their prayers with doxology that there are early records of this conclusion becoming a part of the prayer. It seems that it is a condensed version of David\u2019s prayer in 1 Chronicles 29.

In our text, Paul lays down what ought to be the desire for all Christians: that God receive all the glory now and forever. This certainly ought to be part of any mission or vision statement that the church develops for herself. Revelation 5 makes clear, at least to me, that giving God glory is the main purpose of the church.

Let me just pause here to ask this question. What is more important to us: finding our way through this pandemic or that God is glorified? If the glory of God is our primary goal, then our first concern is not to get through this season, but to give God glory during it. Can I ask an even bolder question? When it comes to the most difficult situations in life, like that of the death of a loved one, are we still willing to commit ourselves to the glory of God?

I think that this needs to be a question that we answer before we arrive at such places. We need to determine how we will respond to trauma. If we determine before hand that we will always seek to give God glory, it will give us focus during days of grief.

But how does this happen? How is God glorified? Well, it happens as the prayer Paul has prayed gets answered. Paul has asked three outrageous and audacious things of God. In what ever circumstances we might offer this prayer, these three requests will appear impossible. Believe me, the apostle is fully aware of this. That is why, as he ends his prayer, he says, \u201cNow to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us\u201d.

Its as if Paul is saying, \u2018you think that what I have asked is outrageous, I know it is. But God does these kinds of things and he can and will do even more than I or you dare to ask, more than we can even imagine.\u2019 So, pray and do not be shy. Do not think that you can out ask God.

What does Paul ask for? I will spend the next several editions of my Wilderness Wanderings exploring those things.