November 14 2025

Friday November 14

“For This Reason”

Ephesians 3:14-15

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

Today we're looking at Ephesians 3.  It is interesting to note that this chapter begins with these words; “For this reason” (v. 1). Paul is basically saying, “For this reason…”, I'm writing these things concerning the mystery of the church in the first verses of this chapter because he's trying to convey to his readers there at the church of Ephesus that they are rich in Christ, they are wealthy in Christ, they have an inheritance in Christ. We need to be able to claim our wealth that we have in Christ.

“For this reason”, I’m writing to you because this was a mystery and was hidden in ages past, but now it's being revealed. That is, the unity of the church which gives us the glory of God in our midst, and gives witness to the world that Jesus Christ is King and Lord. He can transform lives. People that hate each other can love each other. My friend, what a wonderful message we have that we can have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and peace with one another and unity only through Jesus Christ. The church is that institution God's planted on planet earth. Jesus said, "I'll build my church that we can enjoy these blessings."

Now go down to verse 14, Paul again writes: “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named”.  In verse 1, “For this reason”, I write.  So for this reason, I'm writing to you about the mystery of the church. Now as he closes the chapter in verse 14, Paul writes “For this reason”, I'm praying for you. I'm praying that you would know what you have in Jesus Christ.

This is a petition and a prayer you and I ought to study and learn to pray for our friends, our family, and others, and also the leaders of the church. For this reason, we bow our knees and pray. When's the last time you bowed your knees and prayed to the Father?

Paul's prayer was addressed to "the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." In the Bible, prayer is addressed to the Father, through the Son, and in the Spirit. This is the usual pattern, though you do find petitions addressed to the Son, and possibly to the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13). In Ephesians 1:3, Paul calls the Father "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." He was the "God... of our Lord Jesus Christ" when Jesus was here on earth, for as man, Jesus lived in total dependence on God. This title reminds us of Christ's humanity. But God is the "Father of our Lord Jesus Christ", because Jesus Christ is eternal God; so this title reminds us of His deity.

There is a sense, however, in which all men in general, and Christians in particular, share in the fatherhood of God. Paul states that "the whole family in heaven and earth is named" after the divine Father. That word family can be translated "fatherhood." Every fatherhood in heaven and on earth gets its origin and name from the Father. He is the great Original; every other fatherhood is but a copy. Adam is called "the son of God" (Luke 3:38), referring to his creation.

But believers are the "sons of God" by rebirth (John 1:11-13; 1 John 3:1-2). All men are not children of God by nature. Instead, they are children of disobedience and children of wrath (Ephesians 2:2-3). As Creator, God is the Father of each man; but as Savior, He is only the Father of those who believe. There is no such thing in Scripture as the universal fatherhood of God that saves all men. Jesus said, "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7).

Then in verses 16-19, Paul shares four requests in his prayer that we will be looking at for the next several days.

Today, can you truly say that God is your Father in heaven because you have been born again into His family? Are you praying with a “reason in mind”? With a divine purpose and motivation to intercede for others?

God bless!