“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20 NLT)

When my oldest son was a little boy, I would take him to Toys R Us. We would look around. I would tell him to pick out something for himself. He would look at the Star Wars figures. I would look at the X-Wing Fighter with the remote control, thinking that I would like to get it for him. The truth is that I wanted to play with it, too. He would pick out his little figure. Then I would say, “I was thinking of getting you something better than that.” He always went along with my idea.

After a while, he started to learn something about Dad, which was that Dad liked to get presents for his kids. He came to realize that it was better to say, “I don’t know what to get, Dad. You choose it for me.” He came to realize that my choices were often better than what he chose for himself.

Paul sends a similar message about our heavenly Father in Ephesians 3:20. The difference is that God’s generosity is perfect because God is perfect. He isn’t limited by resources. He isn’t swayed by moods, feelings, or impulses. He doesn’t have to guess at what might be meaningful or right for us. He designed us. He knows our code. He knows us better than we know ourselves.

Sometimes that can be hard for us to accept. We don’t always recognize God’s perfect generosity because we allow misconceptions to warp our view of who He is and what He does. We fall for the lie that He’s a cosmic killjoy, always on the lookout for things that bring us joy so that He can put an end to them.

And we compound the problem by being dazzled by temporary thrills—opportunities that have surface appeal but no real depth. Things that have no lasting value, that bring no sense of meaning, purpose, or fulfillment. Or, like my son, we’re content to settle for something small, something that pales in comparison to what we might have.

Our enemy knows our tendencies and weaknesses and does everything in his power to exploit them. Look at his temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. He appealed to Jesus’ immediate physical needs. He offered fame and power. He wanted Jesus to settle for something less than the grand, glorious plan of God to redeem the world. And he does the same to us. He emphasizes flash over substance. He urges us to choose immediate gratification over long-term fulfillment.

One of the many reasons God’s Word encourages us to become mature in our faith is so that we will recognize His generosity and respond with a spirit of gratitude. A mature faith understands that even though we have done nothing to earn God’s favor, He wants only what is ultimately best for us.

Reflection Question: When have you experienced God’s generosity in your life?

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“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” (Ephesians 3:16–17 NLT)

Can you imagine going home tonight and getting ready to go to bed when, all of a sudden, you see someone walking up to your front door and knocking? Lo and behold, it is Jesus. How would you react?

Of course, you know this isn’t going to happen. The Lord isn’t going to come bodily to your home and knock on the front door. But let your imagination run wild for a moment and pretend that He is. Jesus Himself is knocking at your door. Would you open it up and gladly welcome Him in? Or would you feel a little apprehensive?

The fact is, you should be living your life in such a way that Jesus could walk into your home at any moment and be welcomed without embarrassment. Look at the apostle Paul’s words in Ephesians 3:16–17: “I pray that . . . Christ will make his home in your hearts” (NLT). He’s not talking about Christ simply living in your heart. The reality is that Christ lives in the heart of every believer. Paul’s point is that Christ should feel at home in your heart.

This isn’t a temporary arrangement, the kind where you hide your mess until your company leaves. This is a permanent residency. Making Him feel welcome requires you to transform your life completely. But you don’t have to guess at how to do that. The Bible tells you how to live in a way that honors Christ—a way that makes Him feel at home in your heart.

“I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return” (Philippians 1:9–10 NLT).

“Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ” (Philippians 1:27 NLT).

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable” (Philippians 4:8 NLT).

If we were talking about a human guest, these extensive preparations might seem like an inconvenience. But notice in Ephesians 3 what Paul says results from making Christ feel at home in your heart.

“From his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit” (verse 16 NLT).

“Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong” (verse 17 NLT).

“You will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God” (verse 19 NLT).

Jesus doesn’t want to feel at home in your heart because He’s a fussy guest. When you prepare your heart for Christ, you make yourself useful to God. You find fulfillment, challenge, motivation, strength, peace, and joy. And you experience what Jesus meant when he said, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT).

Reflection Question: How can you make Jesus feel more at home in your heart?

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“For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.” (Philippians 1:20–21 NLT)

Every one of us has something that moves us in life. Something we are excited about. What is your purpose in life? How would you complete this statement: “For to me, living means living for _______”? You might say, “For to me, living means living for fun.” Or “For to me, living means living for pleasure.” Or “For to me, living means living for money.” Or “For to me, living means living for success.” Or “For to me, living means living for fame.” Or “For to me, living means living for sex.” No matter what it is, everybody lives for something.

For the apostle Paul, living meant living for Christ. That was his purpose. That was his motivation. But he didn’t stop there. He completed the statement by saying, “and dying is even better.”

Only the person who says, “For to me, living means living for Christ,” can say, “and dying is even better.” When Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion, He destroyed the power of death. That’s why Paul wrote, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55 NLT).

When you live for Christ, you no longer have to fear death, because you know that death is nothing more than a transition from point A to point B. A transition from a body that is wearing out to a new body that God has created for you. A transition from an earth that is corrupt and separated from God to a new Heaven and a new earth where you will live in His presence. A transition from a world filled with sin, temptation, and unhappiness to that place where there will be no more sorrow. When you confidently say in this life, “For to me, living means living for Christ,” you don’t have to be afraid of what happens in the next life.

That’s not to suggest that Christians should have a death wish. If you look at Paul’s words in Philippians 1:22–24, you see his ambivalence about dying. “But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live” (NLT).

The reality is that God has given us important responsibilities in this life—responsibilities to people who don’t yet know Christ as well as responsibilities to our fellow believers. Recognizing, embracing, and making the most of those opportunities helps build unity in the body of Christ.

If we live for Christ, we can face death with no fear. In the meantime, though, let’s make the most of the time we have on earth.

Reflection Question: What evidence of living for Christ might people see in your life?

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