Once there was a Father who had several sons, who were constantly arguing and fighting with each other. The father often tried to teach his children the importance of being at peace with each other, but they would not listen. He knew that their lack of unity would lead them to misfortune. One day when the fighting had become much more violent than usual and each of the sons was seething with rage, he asked one of them to bring him a bundle of sticks. Then handing the bundle to each of his sons in turn, he told them to try to break it. But although each one tried his best; none was able to do so. Then Father untied the bundle and gave the sticks to his sons to break one by one. This they did very easily. “My Sons,” said the Father, “do you not see how certain it is that if you agree with each other and help each other, it will be impossible for your enemies to conquer you? But if you are divided among yourselves, you will be no stronger than a single stick in that bundle.”
This story is one of Aesop’s fables and the moral to this story is that we are stronger together. This week we are looking in Ephesians 3:14-21 and Paul’s prayer for the believers in the church of Ephesus. In this encouraging prayer he prays that they would be strengthened by God to love Him more, by growing in their knowledge of Him. As they grow deeper in their love for God, they would grow deeper in their love for each other. Ultimately their love for God and each other would reflect His glory in their lives. In reflecting God’s Glory, they would be a beacon of light that would reveal hope to those who are still in darkness, the hope of the life changing power of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Nelson
